Store It Foods

When the flu season arrives, are you going to be ready to handle the flu?

There are some simple precautions that can be taken to at least lessen the chances of your contracting the flu.

1. Wash you hands frequently and well.  A five second wash does not do the job.  Take time to make sure you have done it right, and. believe it or not, doing it right does not include using an anti-bacterial soap. Contracting the flu means you have contracted a viral infection, not a bacterial infection.  Regular soap and warm to hot water is a better bet.
2. Carry an alcohol based hand sanitizer. Use it when necessary and appropriate.
3. Shaking hands is a great way to share the flu virus, but it will not give you the disease.  Once again, washing and sanitizing are great preventatives.
4. When using public washrooms, use a paper towel to turn taps on and off.  That is also a good procedure to use when opening the washroom door to exit.
5. If you need to cough, cough into your sleeve rather than your hand. And remember that not all people are going to wise enough to do that.
6. Try to eliminate the practice of touching your nose or mouth with hands that might be carrying unwanted viruses.  Rubbing your eyes should also be avoided.
7. That hard to clean computer keyboard, especially if it is accessed by numerous users, is a great place for germs to accumulate.  Please keep that in mind.  Light switches, door handles, and other such objects are also likely to receive the touch of many hands, some of which might be carrying the flu virus.
8. A cold is not the flu.  The flu generally strikes suddenly, not with a gradual build-up of symptoms.  If you do get sick, please go home.  Don’t spread your illness to others.
9. Prepare ahead.  If your day care provider takes ill, or you have a youngster coming home because the school is closing, will you have anything in place to provide alternate care?
10. Make sure your food storage contains some easy to cook nutritious foods.  If you take sick, you are unlikely to want to prepare elaborate meals, or visit the store to do a bit of grocery shopping.  In fact, you may not be able to do so.  Yet, you will still need to eat.
11. Wash those raw fruits and vegetables.  This is a good practice at any time, but is especially appropriate when flu season strikes.
12. Pay attention to advice being provided by your doctor and other health care professionals.  Guidance will be there if you need it.

Most people will not get drastically sick with even the H1N1 virus, but why take chances.  It is no fun being sick even when the infection is relatively mild.