Flu-Proof Like A Boss

With the Flu virus making it’s nasty rounds across Family Life Nation, here’s a few tips to “Flu-Proof Your House” from the experts at Texas Children’s Hospital!

The single most important thing to do is prevent the spread of germs.

In Your Home

Wash your hands frequently, soap up between your fingers and don’t forget your thumbs, and scrub for about 20 seconds, or about as long as it takes to sing Happy Birthday!

Isolate toothbrushes. Once a household member has a cold, it’s best to separate their toothbrush from the rest of the pack to avoid germ contamination. After the person gets well, replace the toothbrush or toothbrush head with a new one.

Launder bedding frequently. The best thing to do if someone is sick is to put them in a separate room to sleep, preventing the spread of germs as well as preserving your precious sleep. If this isn’t possible and you must share the same bed, wash your sheets frequently in hot water. It even helps to wash just the pillowcases every few days. Bath towels should be washed every day or two.

Clean your humidifier. Humidifiers help soothe sinuses and nasal passages, especially when you have coughing and chest congestion. But if you are using your humidifier on a daily basis to make your patient feel better, once a day you should empty the tank and then wipe it down until it’s dry.

Keep the remotes wiped off. Flu sufferers are likely to spend long hours on the couch sniffling and feeling sorry for themselves.