10 Tips for Controlling the Spread of Illness

                       

This time of year, sickness abounds. Since this is the case, this is an excellent time to learn how to both reduce the chances of getting sick and how to reduce the chances of spreading sickness. Below, readers will find ten commonsense tips; five for those who are not sick and five for those who are sick. Before getting into these helpful tips, we will learn how cold and flu germs are spread.

Common Cold: "Nose, mouth, or eyes to hands to others: Germs can spread to the hands by sneezing, coughing, or rubbing the eyes and then can be transferred to other family members or friends. Simply washing your hands can help prevent such illnesses as the common cold or eye infections." (Minnesota Department of Health). 

Note: the above quote doesn't specifically refer to the common cold, but commonsense tells me that what it discusses applies to the common cold as well as to other germs.

Flu: "People with flu can spread it to others up to about 6 feet away. Most experts think that flu viruses spread mainly by droplets made when people with flu cough, sneeze or talk. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs. Less often, a person might get flu by touching a surface or object that has flu virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes."(Center for Disease Control and Prevention)

Now, we will dive into our ten helpful tips for the day. :)
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How to reduce your chances of becoming sick:

1. Don't touch your face with unwashed/sanitized hands.

2. Don't initiate physical contact (hugs, holding hands, kisses etc.) with people who are obviously sick.

3. Go to bed early.

4. Eat temperately and eat healthy food.

5. Drink plenty of water.

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How to reduce your chances of spreading illness to others:

1. Remember that contagion lasts for a while. Adults who have colds are contagious until roughly a week after the symptoms begin. Babies and children can be contagious for seven days or more (Berkley Wellness). Also, decongestants and cough suppressant medications don't cure colds; they only manage symptoms (Blesson et al; Mayo Clinic Staff). People with the flu are usually contagious for approximately one week, but children and adults with weak immune symptoms can be contagious for up to two weeks (Alvarez) Therefore, please be thoughtful and do not offer hugs, kisses etc. to people when you are sick. You can try to avoid handshakes by cheerfully saying," I would shake your hand, but I'm trying to keep my germs to myself. "😊

2.  Carry hand sanitizer with you everywhere you go. I recommend waiting for 15 seconds before touching anything. Note:The hand sanitizer that we buy from Kroger (Kroger brand: Original Scent) says on the bottle: "Effective at eliminating more than 99.99% of many common harmful germs and bacteria in as little as 15 seconds." You can get a small tube that will fit in your purse of pocket. Sanitize your hands after you blow your nose. Note: I remember having a very icky cold which made me blow my nose frequently. I had class, and I blew my nose so much that I think I decided to just wipe down the computer keyboards I used as well as the doorknob I frequently touched with disinfectant wipes when I was done touching them.

3. Cough downwards, and into the inside of your elbow. Don't cover your mouth with your hand, since you use your hands to touch many things.

4. Whenever appropriate, wear a mask if possible. I do this when I have to go out and am sick. I especially make sure to do this when I am blowing my nose and/or coughing and sneezing a lot. 

5. Give people space. Don't get extremely close to people if you don't have to.
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I hope that these tips will be helpful: both for keeping healthy people healthy and for helping sick people to avoid spreading their illnesses as they recover. Blessings. :)

"Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers." 3 John 1:2 (NKJV)

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Works Cited

Alvarez, Dr. Manny. "How long is someone with the flu contagious?" 26 October 2015. Fox News.   www.foxnews.com/health/how-long-is-someone-with-the-flu-contagious

Berkley Wellness." How Long Is A Cold Contagious?" 19 May 2017. Berkley Wellness. www.berkeleywellness.com/healthy-community/contagious-disease/article/how-long-cold-contagious

Blesson, O. George et al. "The Common Cold: A Review of OTC Options." 19 January 2018. US Pharmacist.www.uspharmacist.com/article/the-common-cold-a-review-of-otc-options

Center for Disease Control and Prevention. "How Flu Spreads". 27 August 2018. Center for Disease Control and Prevention. www.cdc.gov/flu/about/disease/spread.htm

Mayo Clinic Staff. "Cold remedies: What works, what doesn't, what can't hurt". 14 March 2018. Mayo Clinic. www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/common-cold/in-depth/cold-remedies/art-20046403

Minnesota Department of Health. "5 Common Ways Germs are Spread". Accessed on 20 February 2020 at www.health.state.mn.us/people/handhygiene/why/5ways.html
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Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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Picture credit: https://pixabay.com/photos/woman-blow-blowing-nose-hand-chief-698943/