How to Not Get Sick When Your Family Is Sick
What to Do to Prevent Yourself from Getting Sick
We all know that it is cold and flu season and there are a variety of germs floating around to cause the usual symptoms of coughing, sneezing, runny nose, and the like. As a mom and business owner with a weakened immune system, I’m always being as vigilant as I can to stay healthy during this season because nobody has time to be the nurse for the family AND feel like crap. Recently, my husband and toddler has the flu, and thankfully I did not catch it. Here are some of the things I did that believe helped me stay (relatively) well. I am not a medical professional and this is not medical advice, just notes from my experience that I think are worth sharing.
Sleep in Separate Rooms
It sucks to leave the comfort of your own bed while you are sick but if at all possible, it’s best not to sleep in the same bed or room with someone who is coughing or sneezing. It’s a commonly spread myth that once someone who is sick no longer has a fever they are no longer contagious but that is unfortunately not true. As long as the virus is still causing them to be symptomatic, they can still spread their germs via particles leaving their mouth. Be sure to sanitize the sheets alone they are well as well as the rest of the room to avoid contact with germs.
Wear your masks inside
I know it can feel super annoying to wear a mask inside your home but I promise it is what kept me from breathing in all the particles of germs in the air emitted by the constant coughing of my family. Ideally, the sick persons should wear masks to prevent their infected breath from contaminating the air and leaving residue of germs on surfaces.
Up your Supplements
I take immunity boosting multivitamins everyday but when someone in my house is sick, I add even more. During the day, I’m staying as hydrated as possible and adding a hydration multiplier to my water. I make a point to drink Emercen-c everyday because it has B vitamins, zinc and more vitamin C. Lastly, I help myself sleep and get some elderberry in my system with these yummy gummies from Olly. The also contain echinacia and zinc which are known to assist in fighting infections. I promise you whenever I take these, I’m knocked out within 30 minutes.
Open the Windows
This was something that didn’t come as an obvious thing for me to do especially since it’s been subfreezing temperatures here in North Carolina and you probably feel the same way if you’re in a cold climate. But the truth is if you’re reading this, you most likely have a thermostat that will continue to adjust if there is a draft of cold air that comes through your windows. Opening your windows allows fresh air to circulate through your home and also any germs floating around inside to LEAVE.
@tashagoldenphd A break from my regular creativity content for a good ol’ public health PSA 😂🤷🏻♀️ . Look. This isn’t thee most important issue on my radar right now… But I’ve been sending texts/DMs to so many folx that I decided to just make a video— —which I’m sharing now with y’all. And if it can help a few fellow creatives, advocates, caregivers, change agents avoid getting sick this winter, then—🫶 . 🔎As a public health scientist, I’ve long been an advocate for improving indoor air. We spend >90% of our time indoors; the air we breathe in here matters! 📈📉But I confess: once this neurodivergent soul (🙋🏻♀️) got her hands on a reliable air quality meter, I nerded out about getting concrete numbers around what we breathe all the time. Some recents: ✔️Home: 1000-1400. Not terrible. ✔️Doctor’s office: 1350. ✔️Airplane: 1900-3200 ✔️Uber: 1840 ✔️A brand new building: 600-750. 👏👏 ➡️The highest numbers I’ve seen (apart from an airplane) showed up during a super fancy dinner event, with tons of high profile people: 2450. 2700. 2830. 👀Not even money and position can get you healthy indoor air. (This is why I still mask most places, esp during a wave) 🏠BUT— In your own home, there ARE things you can do to help! 🙌 The vid shares a few. . . . #nerdlife #publichealth #psa #indoorairquality #songwriterlife #phdlife ♬ original sound - Tasha Golden, PhD
Sanitize all Surfaces as Much as Possible
Disinfectant spray is your best friend when spraying all hard surfaces that your family touches throughout the day. Doorknobs, switches, countertops, the refrigerator, microwave buttons. I mean everything! Spray it down as much as you can.
I also love the Clorox disinfectant wipes for quickly wiping down counters and any other hard surfaces that you can. Sneezes and coughs spread particles through the air that land everywhere.
Another thing I try to do is run my dishwasher every night to make sure that any dishes and cutlery are being thoroughly cleaned and sanitized with a high-temperature wash. I love that feature on my GE Café Appliance dishwasher.
Wash your hands obsessively
This is my absolute favorite hand wash because it doesn’t leave my hands super dry and it smells divine. I lost count of how many times I washed my hands during the day while my family was sick but any time I heard one of them cough, it would prompt me to go to the sink and give my hands a lather.
I hope these tips help and that you stay well during this cold and flu season!
xo Niki
