Flu is a three-letter word that no one wants to hear, let alone experience. But when so many people seem to be sneezing in the grocery store, coughing in line at the bank, or sending their sick kids to school, is there really a way to escape the virus? When the leaves start to change in October, your risk for catching a cold or the flu increases. Since this month is a time full of social gatherings – school events, football games, fall festivals, holidays, etc. – upper respiratory infections spread like wildfire. Although you can’t control what other people do, you can control how you defend your body and your family member’s bodies against germs. By practicing good health habits, you just might able to make it through fall and winter without having to use up all of your sick days.
Good Health Habits
How to Avoid the Flu
Get Vaccinated
Getting the flu shot reduces your risk of coming down with the flu by 40 to 60 percent (source). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone over the age of six months gets an annual flu shot. During winter 2017-18, more than 80,000 Americans died of the flu, which is the highest number in over a decade (source). Out of that number, 90 percent of those deaths were people age 65 and older. However, the flu also killed 180 young children and teenagers last year, which is more than any other year since the CDC began surveying the illness’s toll on society. Do your part to protect your family and community by getting a flu shot.
Fight Germs
Because it’s the start of flu season, fall is the perfect time of year to replenish your stock of germ-fighting products.
To quickly and conveniently eliminate germs in an enclosed space, try using the SafeSpace Disinfectant Germ Fogger. This product can be used in a variety of rooms and spaces: residences, offices, schools, gyms, locker rooms, yoga studios, hotel rooms, cruise ship cabins, RVs, and more. Especially during cold and flu season, it’s important to use disinfectant wipes or spray daily to clean high-traffic areas like doorknobs, handles, light switches, tables, and steering wheels. And if you want to eliminate germs in your car (or perhaps a rental car), purchase an auto germ eliminator.
Finally, don’t leave the house without hand sanitizer. Keep a bottle in your car, office, and other places you frequent. Since winter is a common time for dry hands, go with an alcohol-free hand sanitizer. Not only will it keep your hands soft, but also it will prevent germs from entering your body through the cracks caused by dry skin.
Boost Your Immune System
While your body will never become 100-percent immune to germs, it is possible to make your body less susceptible to illness. Talk with your doctor about ways you can enhance your immune system. Harvard Medical School recommends these good health habits for building your immune system:
- If you smoke, quit.
- Eat a diet high in fruits and vegetables.
- Try to limit your stress.
- Take supplements. Some evidence suggests that various micronutrient deficiencies – like deficiencies of zinc, selenium, iron, copper, folic acid, and vitamin A – can negatively alter your immune system.
- Exercise for at least 30 minutes three to four times per week.
- Wash your hands frequently.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
With enough commitment, regularly practicing good health habits will start to feel like second nature over time. To keep your surroundings and your hands clean, turn to SafeSpace. The SafeSpace Company is a family-owned small business proudly selling American-made germ foggers, auto germ and odor eliminators, and alcohol-free hand sanitizers to keep your family safe and healthy. To avoid germs this flu season, stock up on disinfectant essentials with the SafeSpace Germ Fighter Kit. You’ll get everything you need to keep yourself and your family healthy: hand sanitizers, disinfecting and deodorizing mists, and disinfectant foggers. For more information about SafeSpace, contact us online or call us toll-free at 1-800-735-2506.
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