Flu Prevention Tips

Fight the Spread of Cold and Flu with These Prevention Tips

The first thing you should understand is that viruses can spread directly from person to person, or indirectly via surfaces. Here are some flu facts compiled from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

You can be contagious without symptoms.

Some otherwise healthy adults may be able to infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 5 to 7 days after becoming sick.¹

Viruses can survive on hard surfaces.

People can get the flu by touching a surface or object that has flu virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose or possibly their eyes.¹

The health complications can range from mild to severe.

Complications of flu can include bacterial pneumonia, ear infections, sinus infections and worsening of chronic medical conditions, such as congestive heart failure, asthma, or diabetes.¹

Here are some smart ways to outsmart germs.

1. Maintain your immune system.

Proper diet, hydration, exercise and sleep are all key to maintaining good health. Just remember, a strong immune system doesn’t prevent you from getting sick or passing a virus on to others.

2. Develop good hygiene habits.

As always, you should practice good hygiene, but you can also adopt new habits to help prevent the spread of germs

Wash your hands. Cold and flu viruses may spread by indirect contact. Someone could sneeze into their hand and then touch a doorknob, leaving behind the virus for the next person who touches it. Washing hands is the best way to prevent getting sick. Wash frequently with water and soap for at least 20 seconds.
Avoid touching your face. Try not to touch your eyes, mouth or nose with unwashed hands.
Cough into your elbow. Viruses cling to your bare hands. You can reduce the spread of viruses by coughing into your elbow instead of your hands.

3. Disinfect high-touch surfaces.

Viruses that cause colds and flu can survive on common surfaces for up to 48 hours. Don’t forget to use Clorox® disinfecting products on common surfaces such as phone receivers, doorknobs, light switches and remote controls. They kill 99.9% of viruses* and bacteria and prevents bacteria growth up to 48 Hours.

4. Drink water.

Water can help strengthen your immune system and help prevent you from catching the flu. If you do get sick, water rehydrates you and flushes out the toxins in your system.

The World Health Organization recommends the following average water intake guidelines:

Adults in normal conditions: 1-2.4 liters/day
Adults in high average temp (32°C): 2.8-3.4 liters/day
Adults that are moderately active: 3.7 liters/day
Children 10 years of age: 1 liter/day

For more information on how much water you should drink refer to World Health Organization (WHO) Guidelines.

5. Get vaccinated.

Vaccination is the first step to flu prevention. In general, all healthy people should get vaccinated. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that high-risk groups and all healthy children get a flu vaccination.

How to Disinfect Your Home After a Cold or Flu | Clorox®

If someone in your household has just recovered from a cold, flu or other virus, you’re probably eager to get a fresh start with a thorough house cleaning. You’ll want to focus on the rooms your sick housemate visited, and disinfecting surfaces and objects they may have touched, as the flu virus can survive up to 72 hours on surfaces like doorknobs and desks

It’s important to open any available windows, and use fans to increase airflow when using cleaning solutions, and always follow the instructions on the labels. For extra protection against viruses, you can also wear gloves and a mask when cleaning infected spaces and surfaces.

A post-flu checklist

1. Wash the dishes

Gather any stray dishes and get them into the sink or dishwasher for a quick wash. After washing, you can sanitize them by soaking for 2 minutes in a solution of 2 teaspoons of Clorox® Bleach per 1 gallon of water. Then drain and air dry.

2. Do the laundry

Bag up all dirty clothing and linens and wash as directed. You can also sanitize clothes, towels and bedsheets using a good detergent and Clorox® Bleach.

3. Hit all the hot spots

Handrails, light switches, handles and doorknobs are all notoriously germy, as are high-touch items like phones, computer keyboards and TV remotes. Give them all a good once-over with Clorox® Bleach or Multipurpose Cleaner Spray as directed.

4. Disinfect bathroom surfaces

Clean the bathroom’s hard surfaces using Clorox® Bleach You can also make your own solution by mixing ⅓ cup of Clorox® Bleach and 1 gallon of water. Get the full rundown here. For toilets you can use our Clorox® Bathroom Toilet Cleaner with Bleach as directed.

5. Disinfect kitchen surfaces

Mix ½ cup of Clorox® Bleach with 1 gallon of water. Wipe down countertops and appliances with the bleach solution and wait 5 minutes. Then rinse with warm water and let air dry.