The Flu Has Hit Your Home! How to Keep the Rest of Your Family Healthy.
You’ve spent the season dodging germs and washing your hands repeatedly. But your child or spouse has brought the flu home. Luckily there are ways to stay healthy without it hitting every member of your family. Here are some tips on how to stay healthy.
Know How The Flu Works
Knowing how the flu transmitted is important. The flu is highly contagious. Infected people can often spread the virus to others before they even start showing symptoms. It is also possible to spread germs up to seven days after becoming ill.
The flu virus spreads from saliva droplets. You’re an infected person coughs or sneezes, these droplets can travel up to six feet where they can land or be inhaled in your nose or mouth. The virus can also live on some surfaces. If you touch an infected surface, then touch your own nose our mouth, you can become infected! Yuck!
Strategies for Staying Healthy
The best way to prevent getting the flu is to stay away from infected individuals. But that’s not always easy, especially if they live with you. Here are some simple ways to keep yourself health and help prevent the flu from spreading.
Wash your hands often – this is the easiest and most obvious way to stay healthy. If you aren’t able to get to soap and water right away, use and alcohol-based sanitizer.
Disinfect surfaces or objects – use paper towels and a disinfectant spray to clean things like the remote control, door knobs, and cell phones.
Avoid touching your face – If you touch something with the flu virus and touch your eyes, nose, or mouth, you can become infected.
Do laundry with hot water – wash towels, clothing, and bedding in hot water. Hot water helps kill the virus.
Cover your mouth – If you sneeze or cough, make sure you do so into your elbow or sleeve. Avoid coughing or sneezing into your hands.
The Symptoms
It is important to recognize early signs and symptoms of the flu so you can take steps to get healthy again. The flu has symptoms that range from mild to severe and most people recover within a couple weeks. If you aren’t feeling well, watch for a combination of some or all of these symptoms:
- Fever
- Sore throat
- Cough
- Fatigue or tiredness
- Runny nose
- Body aches
- Chills
- Headache
- Vomiting or diarrhea
It is important to take care of yourself and keep an eye out for any developing symptoms of your own. While it is difficult to stay healthy when the flu hits your home, it is not impossible. The best way to protect yourself is by getting a flu vaccine. Call or text 866-682-4842 to make an appointment to get yours today.
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