Cold and flu season is here, and it will invariably take its toll on our families. While sickness cannot be one hundred percent prevented, there are steps that we can take to protect our families and lessen the severity of the sickness. This is a mixture of common sense and practical measures that you can incorporate during cold and flu season. There are also things that you can do independent of vaccinations to keep your family healthy. Here are 5 ways you can protect your family during cold and flu season.ย
5 Ways to Protect Your Family this Cold and Flu Season
1. Wash Everything Regularlyย
If we learned anything from Covid, it is that the first thing that we need to keep clean is our hands! Our digits are a conduit for germs to reach our systems. Our hands touch our food and can transmit bacteria in large numbers (ewww). It is vital to wash our hands at all possible times and to double our efforts during cold and flu season. We all have learned to use anti-bacterial hand cleaner whenever possible and carry a small container with us at all times. According to the Centers for Disease Control, frequent hand washing can cut the risk of respiratory illness by as much as 21 percent. When the common cold, this years flu strain and the new Covid variant are going around, anything that we can do to lower our risk of getting one of them can make the difference between a week in bed and a bug avoided.ย
Germs can live practically anywhere, especially on surfaces that are conducive for them. Take the time to wipe down all of your surfaces with an alcohol based cleaning solution. This will help kill the bacteria that live on them. In addition, laundry should be done frequently during cold and flu season because bacteria also stays on fabrics.ย
2. Get Good Sleep
Your immune system is at its strongest when your body is well-rested. This starts with making sure to get all of the sleep that you need to keep your body refreshed. Try to get eight hours of sleep every night as a baseline. While nobody is suggesting that you hibernate, a good night’s sleep matters even more during cold and flu season.ย
If you are not feeling at your best, make sure to get extra rest to ward off the approaching virus. While taking it easy when not feeling well will not prevent the cold, it will help your immune system battle whatever threatens it. If you are not feeling well, do not feel the need to be a hero by pushing yourself to keep going. Instead, take some time out to rest and refresh yourself.ย While you should get the proper amount of rest, you should also take care to remain active since that will help build your immune system.ย
3. Get Your Vitamins
Vitamin C, Magnesium, Vitamin D and Zinc are some of the best minerals to keep your immune system strong. These supplements are great compliments to the main defensive arsenal that we all should have: restful sleep, stress management, proper hygiene, adequate hydration, healthy diet, and daily exercise. Give your family regular vitamins and keep fresh fruits around the house. One study claims that Vitamin C can knock the equivalent of one day off of a cold for both adults and children. The combo of Vitamin C, Magnesium, Vitamin D and Zinc are proven to reduce the severity of symptoms and the duration of the common cold. It is worth it to have them on hand and as a part of your daily regimen.ย
4. Stay Home When Sick/Not Feeling Well
When doctors tell you that daycare is where germs go to play, it is hardly any exaggeration. Many outbreaks of illnesses begin with children at their school or childcare facilities. If you learn that there is a virus going around, consider keeping your kids at home even if they are not yet sick. You already know that there is a high chance that they will bring something home with them and spread it to the rest of the family!
If the kids do not feel well, resist the urge to keep sending them to school!! It will make their illness worse and will increase the chance that they will pass it to you and the entire class. Sometimes, one day off may be enough to keep kids from spreading a virus. While taking time off from work to be with a sick child may be difficult, it lessens the chance that you may need to take more time off of work if one’s condition worsens. Since the dawn of “working from home” during Covid, we all know how to juggle this.
The same holds true for you. If you need to take a sick day, you are human. One sick day is an investment in your future health even if it is not easy to miss a day of work. Sometimes, getting some rest and stopping activity is enough to quickly get you back to health.ย
5. Have Cold and Flu Season Essentials on Hand
Families are known for sharing things with each other. Along with love and memories, families also share germs. It is important to have cold and flu season essentials on hand to keep your immune system strong and body protected from winter sickness. When one person in your family gets sick, you need to get defensive in a hurry. In addition to making sure that everyone else in your family keeps a safe distance from the person who has a cold or flu, double your efforts to keep everything clean and sanitized and stock up on these cold and flu season essentials.ย
My top essentials:
- Shower Steamers
- Vitamins
- Homeopathic Remedies
- Lots of Fruit and Veggies
- Fresh Cold Pressed Organic Juice
- Immunity Shots
- Homemade Vapor Rub
- Essential Oil Rollers
-
Immunity Boost (use code ORLANDOMOM15 for a discount!)
A few other favorites!
