Whether your daughter comes home looking pale and feverish or you feel a scratchy throat and a stuffy nose, a wave of sniffles and coughs might be coming your way. Prepare yourself and your family with these tips to stay ahead of colds and flu. With luck, you might even prevent some illnesses.
Stock Up on Supplies
Be ready before cold and flu season hits. Ensure you have plenty of tissues, hand soap, hand sanitizer, and paper towels. Keep extra masks on hand to protect against the spread of viruses. Consider stocking up on puzzles, coloring books, or DVDs to keep sick kids entertained.
Check Your Medicine Cabinet
Make sure you have pain relievers, fever reducers, and other necessary medications like decongestants or cough syrups. Review the correct dosages based on age and weight, and check for any potential interactions. Test your thermometer’s batteries and clean your humidifier.
Enforce Hand-Washing
Germs spread easily through unwashed hands. Ensure your family scrubs their hands with soap for at least 20 seconds. Teach kids to wash for the duration of singing “Happy Birthday” twice. Lead by example and wash your hands thoroughly as well.
Plan for Sick Days
Prepare for the possibility of needing days off. Even if you don’t get sick, you might need to care for ill children. Review your office’s sick day policy and consider any unpaid time off you might need to take.
Line Up Support
You may need help from others. Check if family members can watch your kids if they’re home sick, or ask a neighbor to help with activities like soccer and dance if you’re unwell.
Disinfect High-Touch Surfaces
Focus on disinfecting frequently touched items like doorknobs, remote controls, and phones daily. You don’t need to disinfect every surface, but targeting these key areas can help reduce germ spread.
Switch to Paper Goods
To minimize germ transmission, use paper towels instead of hand towels in the bathroom, and switch to paper cups, disposing of them after one use.
Fill the Fridge and Pantry
Stock up on easy-to-make foods for lunches and dinners. Have your kids’ favorite drinks and snacks ready, along with some healthy comfort foods like chicken soup and PB&J.
Rest
Adequate rest is crucial for both recovery and prevention. Ensure everyone in the family gets plenty of sleep to help their bodies fight off illness.
Get Your Flu Shot
One of the best preventative measures is vaccination. Ensure your whole family gets their flu shots to help keep the flu at bay.
By taking these steps, you can better prepare for the cold and flu season, helping to keep your family healthy and resilient.
