Just like that, another summer has come to an end. As the warmer weather surrenders to cooler fall weather, thoughts turn to ways to keep your family healthy during the colder months. With flu season beginning as early as October and lasting well past February you must be doing everything possible to keep yourself and those you love healthy and safe this flu season. Here’s what you can do to prepare:
Get Vaccinated
Everyone over six months old should get an annual flu shot, according to the CDC. This is one surefire way to help protect every member of your household from getting sick this year. Your doctor should be able to provide you with the flu vaccine as early as September, and the sooner you and the family can get vaccinated the better.
Wash Your Hands
You must wash your hands frequently to prevent the spread of germs. Wash your hands before and after preparing or eating food, after caring for pets or sick family members, after changing diapers, and after using the bathroom. Not sure if you are washing your hands long enough? Sing the “Happy Birthday” song twice while lathering up with antibacterial soap. Even if you are washing your hand regularly you still:
Shouldn’t Touch Your Face
One of the fastest ways to spread germs is to rub your eyes or nose. Even if you just washed your hands, you should still avoid touching your face as much as possible to reduce your risk of catching the flu, germs, and other viruses.
Keep Surfaces Clean
Bacteria just love to live on everything from your cell phones and doorknobs to the kitchen counter, so you must be disinfecting all of these surfaces every day to stop viruses and bacteria from spreading.
Make Sure You’re Getting Enough Sleep
If you aren’t getting enough sleep, or your sleep is poor, you better believe that this can impact your immune system. Not sleeping at least 7-9 hours each night can reduce your body’s ability to fight off infection. Make your sleep a priority to keep your immune system running at 100 percent.