Avoiding the Flu

The worldwide flu news headlines on the outbreak of the new virus But what exactly is it that we at home can do to prevent the spread of the flu virus? Knock on wood, we haven't been hit by the flu virus this year.  We are trying to stay healthy. Not getting sick can be frugal because we don't have doctor visits co-pays or prescription or over the counter medication costs.

There's No Place Like Home

There is no safer place than your own home to avoid being infected with the flu virus, And once we're there, the better we know how to keep a virus from spreading in our home, the safer our home inside will be.

This is especially important for Moms and Dads  because as we know, the flu hits younger kids  harder because they haven't built up many immunities. It helps to remember the reason why we usually get colds and flu this time of year. Not because of the weather - but because we're all stuck  with each other indoors.

These viruses  can survive up to three hours on skin and inanimate objects. That means when your kids classmates  hacks away without covering his mouth at school  your son or daughter has  opportunity to come in contact with his their .and to bring them home alive.Additionally, sometimes people may become infected by touching something with viruses on it and then touching his nose or mouth.

While we can't do much about the  spread of the flu  there are simple but effective things we can do inside our home: My medical insurance Aenta  sent over these tips 

1 Wash Your Hands. And make your kids wash their hands. . Avoid the anti-bacterial soaps that may actually cause more viruses in the long run by making germs resistant. Unless kids' hands are visibly dirty, encourage them to use the alcohol-based cleansers that clean without water. These cleansers kill germs by dehydration. You can buy small bottles and pack them in your kids' backpacks for use at school. If they need soap and water, they must scrub vigorously for at least 30 seconds to kill germs. (

2 Teach kids to sneeze or cough into a tissue and then throw the tissue away. And then wash their hands again!

3 Get a Flu Shot. If flu shots are available, make sure everyone in your family who is old enough gets one.

4 Don't Share. Tell you kids not to drink after other kids  from the same cup  or share food. . Use paper cups in the bathroom 

5 Disinfect Your Home. What's the most germ-laden room of your house? . It's the kitchen -- especially the sink area. And the worst germ-breeding object in your house? The kitchen sponge or dishrag. The moistness in sponges creates an ideal growing environment for these nasty little creatures. Disinfect sponges periodically by wetting them and popping them into the microwave for two minutes; replace them at least once a week. Change dishrags daily.

6  Clean surfaces that may harbor germs with a good virus-killing disinfectant, such as Clorox or Lysol. Daily  clean all  doorknobs, faucets, counter tops, computer  keyboards, telephones, remote controls  and any other frequently touched surface.

7 Take Care of  Mom. Cold germs are around all the time. Usually, healthy, well-nourished, well-rested people can fend off many germs. And if you do get sick, good health usually helps you recover faster. So make sure you  get  at  least eight hours of sleep, eats healthy meals (lots of fruit and vegetables) and exercises daily. All the good stuff you should be doing, anyway!

8  Keep the Flu at Home. If you or your child is running a temperature, stay home! Do not go out and infect others. And if you have younger kids, think twice before sending them to indoor playgrounds or playspaces   where toddlers and preschoolers  may have been drooling over the toys .. Try to avoid people who have been sick. Adults are contagious up to seven days after experiencing symptoms. And kids are contagious longer than that. Mom and Dads  may want to consider talking to their  boss  about working from home.

9 If you do get the flu, start antiviral prescription medications right away. If you take these drugs within the first 48 hours of symptoms, they can lessen the severity. Otherwise, all you can do is drink a lot of water  and try to sleep through it. If your symptoms are severe - and particularly if you have difficulty breathing - see a doctor.