It’s that most hated time of year once again. Ranging from December through February, peak flu season is upon us, and let’s face it… no one wants the flu. Over 170 million people in the United States receive the controversy flu shot every year in hopes of avoiding it; however, 5-20% of the population in the country will still contract it. The more you understand about the way the flu virus works, the easier it will be for you to know how to avoid getting sick (or spreading your own germs).
When someone has the flu they can be contagious for a few days before they show symptoms and up to a week after their symptoms are gone. But, let’s face it, no one is staying home in bed for 7-10 days. That means there are many places (school, work, store, etc.) where you can be exposed to the flu virus. Since germs from a virus are not something that you can see, your first line of defense needs to be keeping your household properly cleaned and disinfected. Many people use these two words interchangeably, but they are not the same at all (see the infographic to find out the differences).
If left unattended, a simple flu could lead to various health problems such as:
- Pneumonia
- Ear infections
- Sinus infections
- Asthma
- Even congestive heart failure.
If someone in your household has the flu, you have to be very vigilant on the signs and symptoms he/she is experiencing. Once you see signs and symptoms of flu it is crucial to remedy it and to consult a health care provider especially if it’s your child experiencing it.
Always bear in mind that prevention is always better than cure. Usually, if a family member gets the flu, there’s a huge chance that other family members can also get it. Thus, it is of utmost important for you the critical factors on how it is transmitted. You don’t need to be germophobic or totally paranoid on getting it in order to keep it from spreading. The important thing would be to know the best practices on impeding the virus from being spread.
For those times that your preventative efforts just aren’t enough, trying to keep your house properly cleaned will be key to stopping the spread of the virus. If you have a household with small children it can feel like a losing battle to get through the flu without every family member coming down with it. Knowing the common “points of contact” described in this infographic will help you to focus your cleaning efforts in the areas that tend to matter the most. You will also want to learn the included best practices on how to properly clean after the flu. The virus can stick around for days after you think everyone is healthy. The last thing you want at that time is for the family to hit round two. The cleaning tips and information included in this infographic from Clean Conscience are critical to helping you stop the spread of the flu virus.
