It is a fact that anywhere between five to 20% of the United States population will come down with the flu virus each year, in a seasonal wave that begins as early as October, and often peaks in February but can last as late as May. As a result of this, many are forced to take days off of work and school and some even need to be hospitalized.
Here are a few tips to help you avoid the flu and also to help those friends and family members that are ill.
Friends: Delivering a Flu Basket
If you have a friend that is home suffering with cold and flu symptoms, sometimes the perfect way to reach out to them is with a flu basket. These gifts can be hand delivered and left at the door, along with a thermos of hot soup, letting your friend know that you are thinking about them. Be sure to make the baskets personal by adding the basic necessities along with some enjoyable things to help them feel better. The following are some ideas:
1. Tissues, thermometers, hand wipes, and cough drops are a great way to help get through the difficult days.
2. Lip balms and scented hand sanitizers help the patient not only feel better but also add a personal touch.
3. The winter months seem to be the driest, so a nice gift of soothing hand or body lotion can also be the perfect addition to a flu basket. A great scent to look for is something with lavender, which is calming to the mind and body when it is suffering from aches and pains.
4. Picking a few of your favorite magazines or word puzzle books can be a great idea for those down with germs. Days seem long and daunting when stuck in a bed and these can help pass the time.
5. A box of tea bags and a nice mug or warm, fuzzy socks are also great ideas to help a sick friend get cozy during their days at home.
How to Avoid the Flu at Work
Although you wash your hand regularly, your fellow colleagues may not have the same hygiene practices and during the cold and flu season it may seem next to impossible to keep others germs at bay while at the office. Here are a few ideas on how to try to stay healthy.
1. If you are sick with a cold or flu, you are doing no one any good at the office. Bringing your germs to work is bad manners and puts all of those you work with at risk. Do everyone a favor and stay home if you are feeling under the weather with a fever or bad congestion and are unsure if it is more than the common cold.
2. Keep surfaces Clean. Germs lurk on surfaces like cell phones, door handles and computer keyboards. Keeping Clorox wipes at your desk. Frequently wiping down areas can kill microorganisms and help reduce infection.
3. Wash Your Hands. Wash your hands often. When washing, use soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer and then be sure to dry them with a clean towel.
4. Cover Your Mouth. Always cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough. When coughing, the proper etiquette is to not cough into your hand, but instead to cough into your bent elbow area, keeping your hands free of germs. If you do not have time to grab a tissue when you sneeze, be sure to use hand sanitizer afterward to ensure that the germs have been removed.
5. Call Your Doctor. If you think that you might be suffering from the influenza, call your doctor’s office immediately. All offices have different rules and some may not want you in the waiting room exposing others. Make sure that you tell them your symptoms and ask what they suggest you do for treatment.
Keeping Your Family Safe from the Flu
Chances are if you have children in the house, you will have some form of germ infestation this winter. The same children that refuse to share their toys will share germs faster than anyone else. By using these tips, the rest of your house will have a better chance of not coming down with their sickness.
1. Change Hand Towels. If your family all uses one hand towel in the bathroom or kitchen, be sure to change it frequently. Although children are taught to wash their hands, sometimes they do not wash as vigorously as adults and can still spread germs.
2. Clean frequently used Areas. Make a daily sweep of the house, wiping down frequently touched areas such as door handles, remote controls, refrigerator doors and light switches with Clorox wipes that kill viruses. This will help in the spread of germs.
3. Wash Hands after School. When kids come rushing in the door from a busy day at school send them directly into the bathroom to wash their hands. It is also a good idea to wash their coats and mittens frequently, as they are often touched by other children during bus rides and play time.
4. Keep Them Home From School. Even if you have an important meeting or something pending at the office, if your child has a fever or body aches and pains, keep them home from school. If the fever persists, or you are unsure on treatment, call the doctor and keep them isolated from other family members.
5. Make Frozen Hydration Cups. If a child is frequently vomiting and wont eat or drink, one way to ensure that they stay hydrated is to make frozen Dixie cups of Propel (the athletic drink). This gives the child something to suck on and has the nutrients needed to keep them hydrated until they are able to take nourishment again.
Tips to Help Avoid the Flu During Travel
Traveling during the winter months means long boarding lines at the airport, but can also mean extra exposure to the flu and other germs. Here are a few tips to help you stay healthy while traveling this season.
1. Always carry your Own Tissue. Keep a small container of tissues for your purse or pocket while out and about. That way, if needed, you know that only your hands have touched the tissues and are avoiding the person’s germs sitting next to you.
2. Never Touch Your Mouth, Ears or Eyes. Sometimes we all have nervous tendencies, which can include biting your fingernails. Make sure to never touch your face with your hands while in public, even if you have a tremendous itch in your eye or ear. These are all places where germs can enter the body causing you to get sick. If necessary, find a restroom where you can wash your hands before touching your face.
3. Carry Hand Sanitizer. Stores make hand sanitizer so easy to carry now with attachable handles for purses, briefcases or belt loops. Make sure that you carry some at all times and use it frequently, like every time you handle money, touch door handles or use a public pen.
Nothing can fully keep germs away this season but with a few helpful hints, tips and ideas, you can not only try to protect yourself but also help those that are suffering to feel better when in need.
