Staying Healthy by Preventing the Spread of Viruses

With all the different germs and viruses that have been going around lately many people are wondering what steps, if any, they can take to help protect themselves and their families. Cold and flu season appears to be starting extra early this year, the Ebola outbreak is continuing to spread, and there is a EV-D68 respiratory virus that is currently sending hundreds of kids across the Midwest to the hospital. Whether the germs and bacteria are spread through direct contact or they are airborne, there are a number of preventative steps that can be taken to help keep you and your family healthy.

For starters, if/when you do get sick try to remember that other people are also trying to stay healthy and don’t want to get sick either. Remember that each time you (or someone else) coughs or sneezes their germs and bacteria are being spread all throughout the room. Be courteous and follow these tips:

Reducing the Risk of Spreading your Sickness to Other People:

-- When in doubt, get checked out! Not sure if you might have a cold or the EV-D68 respiratory virus? Consult with your healthcare provider to ensure that you receive the proper treatment.

-- Stay home when you do get sick. Getting extra rest will help you recover quicker and staying home will prevent you from spreading your sickness to everyone else at school, work, etc.

-- Wear an inexpensive face mask. Wearing a face mask significantly helps reduce the risks of spreading airborne viruses on to other people around you, including your family members.

-- Cover your cough using a tissue or by coughing into the corner of your sleeve. When you cough into your hand you then spread your germs onto everything and everyone that you touch.

-- Use a tissue when you sneeze and then throw it out and wash your hands. Carrying around a used tissue is the same thing as walking around with a pocket full of germs.

-- Be extra diligent about washing your hands with soap and warm water.

-- Use disinfectant and sanitizing products to clean all commonly touched surfaces.

Tips for Staying Healthy:

-- Take immune boosting vitamins and supplements to help ensure that you’re getting all the required nutrients that the body needs to keep you healthy.

-- Follow a well-balanced diet plan and get the recommended 8-9 hours of sleep each night. If necessary use sleep aids to help ensure that you get a good night’s rest.

-- Use proper hand washing techniques and frequently wash your hands throughout the day.

-- Carry around instant hand sanitizer for when there isn’t easy access to soap and clean running water.

-- Try not to touch the eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

-- Avoid close contact with others, especially when they are sick. Don’t share eating utensils or drinks with other people and try to avoid hugging, kissing, and shaking hands.

-- Frequently clean and disinfect commonly used surfaces, such as doorknobs, light switches, and toys.

-- If you must be around those who are sick (like a family member or coworker who refuses to stay home), wearing an inexpensive face mask can help reduce your risks of catching their illness.

Whether the viruses going around are airborne or are spread through direct contact, implementing all of the suggestions listed above will help prevent the further spread of diseases and help protect you from catching things like the cold and flu, the EV-D68 respiratory virus, and the Ebola virus. For more great products to help prevent you and your family catching the many viruses going around, Mountainside Medical Equipment offers a wide selection of isolation products and cleaning and disinfecting supplies, as well as wide range of over-the-counter products to help relieve your symptoms while you’re sick and help you get back to feeling like yourself as quickly as possible.

Sources:

http://www.cdc.gov/non-polio-enterovirus/about/ev-d68.html

http://wgntv.com/2014/09/11/cps-and-public-health-dept-offer-tips-to-avoid-ev-d68-virus/