6 Tips to Prevent the Flu

Stay Healthy During Cold and Flu Season

Previously published 1/11/2013

Sometimes, we just can’t avoid being exposed to the flu. Kelsie this week was diagnosed with Influenza A after spiking a high fever. Sure enough, a fellow classmate had been diagnosed before her.

Since I have two “preemies”, I pay attention to sanitizing and so forth. While Kelsie started the Tamiflu immediately, the rest of our family didn’t start it as a preventative until last night.

One thing we constantly teach the kids, if you cough, cover it. Every time Kelsie touches her face, she knows to grab the hand sanitizer. I also moved our Oreck Air Purifier from my bedroom to the living room to help with air quality. You can notice a difference just in the simple difference in how the room smells.

Here are some simple steps to avoid passing the flu to others around you.

  1. WASH YOUR HANDS. Whether you are feeling sick or not, this should always be a given. If you sneeze or cough, wash your hands or grab a squeeze of hand sanitizer.

  2. Frequently launder the blankets and towels of anyone who might be sick. Of course, WASH YOUR HANDS after coming into contact with such.

  3. Clean, clean, clean. Use any disinfectant that kills viruses and germs on contact. Wipe down the table with such after every meal. We love keeping Lysol wipes in every room.

  4. Wash plates and glassware with HOT water.

5.Be sure to fill up on Vitamin C, Zinc, Vitamin D, and Vitamin E.

Tiptoavoidflu6. If you are holding a sick child, have them lay with their chin facing out to avoid any accidental coughs to the face.

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13 Comments

  1. Great tips! I never even considered the one about holding the child facing away from you. Makes a lot of sense.

  2. I am one of those OCD moms when it comes to using hand sanitizer!! I always have some with me, and make sure my kids use it all the time. I’ve been the butt of jokes about my use of it – but after my oldest daughter ended up with chicken pox after playing in a play structure at a pool, I wasn’t going to take chances any more. Now, if we are in a restaurant that has a play area, the hand sanitizer is out before they ever have a chance to start eating!!!

    Great tips about the flu:-)

  3. Great tips! I’m a hand-washer. Luckily none of us have gotten the flu this season (knock on wood).

  4. Great tips. I’m a bit of a germ phobe during the flu months and wash my hands all the time. I need to grab some vitamins though and start taking those as well.

  5. Great tips! I am a serial hand-washer, but in the winter months is eats them up. They get all cracked and nasty. I think we already do all of your tips (except for the Zinc).

    I love the 30oz. sanitizer! That’s the one I give the boys’ teachers each year!

  6. These are really good tips to remember, especially since the flu season this year is especially active.

  7. Great tips! My boys and I are allergic to eggs so we aren’t able to get the flu shot, this makes avoiding the flu that much more important!!

  8. Excellent tips. I would also like to add one. Sanitizer does come in a wipe form and they make them purse size. Carry a pack wih you. Many grocery stores have sanitizer stations while others dont- wipe those cart handles. People who are ill oftentimes have no choice but to shop, to get supplies and they are pushed by many. Wipe hings off. I carry them everywhere right now!

    1. That’s a great idea! With all going on this season, it’s awesome to be proactive!

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