Flu Fighter: 10 Things to Do To Keep Influenza AwayFlu Prevention: 10 Tips. What parents can do to prevent the spread of the flu virus.
1 Wash your hands. And make your kids wash their hands. A lot. (Tell them they can finally play in water.) 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. The more you wash, the safer you are. 2 Teach kids to sneeze or cough into a tissue. Then then throw the tissue away. Never have them cough into their hand. 3 Get a flu shot. It's especially important if you care for an infant, elders or someone with a weak immune system. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) notes that complications from the seasonal flu kill an average of 36,000 people per year in the U.S. and results in the hospitalization of more than 200,000 people. 4 Launder linens of a flu-sufferer separately. And don't hug the laundry to your chest prior to washing - you risk inhaling the virus. Be sure to set the clothes dryer on the hottest setting. Finally, wash your hands with soap and water immediately after handling dirty laundry. 5 Disinfect your home. What's the most germ-laden room of your house? Nope, it's not the bathroom. 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. Regularly clean doorknobs, faucets, countertops, keyboards, telephone receivers and other frequently touched surfaces. 7 Take care of yourself. Cold germs and viruses are around all the time. So why aren’t we sick 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. Make sure your family gets at least eight hours of sleep a night, eats healthy meals (lots of fruit and vegetables) and exercises daily. 8 Keep the flu at home. If you or your child is running a temperature, stay home! Do not go out and infect others. If you have younger kids, think twice before sending them to indoor amusement parks where toddlers may have been drooling over plastic balls, etc. Remember, adults are contagious up to seven days after experiencing symptoms. And kids are contagious longer than that. 9 If you do get the flu, start antiviral prescription medications such as oseltamivir or zanamivir right away. Taken within the first 48 hours of symptoms, they can lessen the severity. Drink plenty of liquids. If your symptoms are severe – and particularly if you have difficulty breathing – see a doctor. 10 Finally, call a doctor if your child has fast breathing or trouble breathing, is not drinking enough fluids, has severe or persistent vomiting, or has flu-like symptoms that improve but return with fever and cough.  Custom Search 10 Steps to a Cleaner, Healthier Home
|
Cleaning the
Family Jewels
A diamond is forever - if
you know how to clean it.
Kids Chores Daily
By Age
What chores are appropriate for a child's age? Find out
here.
How to Clean
Cloudy Crystal
If the Waterford tumblers are looking more foggy than crystal clear, here's how to to get it sparkling again.