It’s flu season, and if you think your house is immune to the germs your child is bringing home from school, think again. The good news is, most studies have shown that the flu virus can only live and potentially infect a person for two to eight hours after it’s deposited on a surface. That means it’s not necessary to go to great lengths to clean and disinfect your home, you just need to do the basics properly.
First of all, if you haven’t gotten your flu shot – there’s still plenty of time to do so. After all, while we typically associate flu season with the bitter cold months of December – February, it actually lasts through April. Check out flu shot misconceptions (and facts) here.
After making sure everyone is vaccinated – the first line of defense – here is what you need to know to keep your family as healthy as possible.
1. Hand washing is critical
After getting them vaccinated, the best thing you can do for your kids is to make sure they wash their hands, and not just at home, but at school and in public, as well.
Hand sanitizer doesn’t work as well as soap and water, said Dr. John LaCount, a pediatrician at St. Elizabeth Physicians’ Florence office, so teach your children ways to wash their hands effectively, such as singing the alphabet song while washing.
2. Know the difference between cleaning and disinfecting
Cleaning involves using soap and water to physically remove germs and dirt from surfaces and objects. Although cleaning doesn’t necessarily kill germs, it lowers their numbers and the risk of spreading infection.
Disinfecting a surface or object means you’re using chemicals to kill germs.
LaCount advises that most household cleaning products, such as Clorox ® Disinfecting Wipes, will work to both clean and disinfect while minimizing the potential spread of infection.
3. Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that are touched often
Anything that you or your kids are touching on a daily basis, such as doorknobs, faucets, toys or phones – and don’t forget those video game controllers – should be cleaned and disinfected regularly.
“Don’t be obsessive, but please do be aware of what you’re touching often because that’s where most infections are going to start,” LaCount said.
4. Isolate the infection when it does arise
If someone in your house does get sick, make sure you monitor what he or she is touching closely so you can clean and disinfect thoroughly.
If your child is vomiting and/or having diarrhea, try to confine him or her to one bathroom so other people in your family can be safe from germs. If it is not possible to use a single bathroom, teach the child to clean up any mess by washing and disinfecting the affected surfaces.
If your child is coughing, teach him or her how to cover the cough, or how to cough into an elbow to block the particles.
Finally, there should be no sharing of utensils or drinks, and toothbrushes should be stored separately.
“If you’re careful, and use some common sense, transmission of infections can potentially be minimized if not altogether avoided,” LaCount said.
