Get Healthy
When flu season is approaching, consider adding daily vitamins and other supplements to the family’s routine, if they aren’t already a daily part of it. Vitamin E and garlic supplements have been shown to reduce the risk of developing the flu, while vitamin C and zinc supplements have shown efficacy in minimizing symptoms or reducing the duration of symptoms by a day or more.
Minimize the Invasion
Once the flu has invaded your home, one of the first things you should do is establish a “sick room,” keeping the sick person comfortable but away from common areas in the house. When possible, the sick person or people should use a bathroom separate from those used by healthy people in the home.
The sick room and bathroom should be cleaned daily with a household disinfectant, such as Lysol, which may kill the flu virus on surfaces. No high-risk household members (young children, the elderly or anyone with a compromised immune system) should have contact with the sick person to minimize the risk of spreading the illness to someone who may develop a serious complication.
Each sick person should have his or her own drinking glass, washcloth and towel, and all needed materials, including tissues, garbage can, thermometer, humidifier, and cooler or pitcher with ice and drinks should be kept in the sick room to minimize the risk of contaminating a common surface in the house while looking for one of these items in a bathroom, kitchen or other room.
Wash Hands Frequently and Sanitize
All healthy people in the house should clean their hands with soap and water frequently, and use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, especially after any contact with the sick person or any items used or touched by the sick person (including dishes and linens). The sick person should wash hands frequently with soap and water and avoid touching common surfaces after coughing into his or her hands.