I never worried about getting the Flu when I was young. I always thought that maybe I’d get to stay home from school a day or two and watch tv if I ever did get it. And then, in high school, I finally got the flu.
I was absolutely miserable.
My whole body ached. I was hot and then cold and then hot again and was completely exhausted. And swallowing was so painful – it felt like swallowing glass shards.
It wasn’t just a fun day out of school. It was a serious sickness and I never wanted to get the Flu again.
And now that I’m a mom with three young children, I don’t want my kids to ever get the Flu either.
I do what I can to help my children stay healthy during Flu season. I encourage lots of hand washing and hand sanitizers throughout the day. If the kids sneeze or cough, they should do it into a tissue if possible, or into the crook of their elbow. I also make sure to disinfect the surfaces that the kids touch, whether we’re at home or in a shopping cart at the store.
Still, as careful as I am, I was surprised to find out several facts about the Flu. Like how Flu germs can live on surfaces for up to eight hours. And how virus particles in coughs and sneezes can reach up to six feet away. That’s scary!
See these and other interesting Flu facts in Elizabeth Pantley’s free ebooklet, “A Parent’s Guide to Flu Season”.
Be sure to check it out – you’ll be surprised by some of the facts about the Flu. And you’ll get great tips on how you can help avoid getting it!
Tell me, what do you normally do to stay healthy during Flu season?
Janet W. says
Keeping my fingers crossed no one in my family gets the flu this year, especially my grandson now that he’s in preschool. Right now, strep is going around. We wash our hands a million times a day to keep from spreading germs.
Julie Wood says
Our family gets a flu shot, we wash our hands. Use hand sanitizer when we are out. Stay away from sick people. Eat healthy and drink juice. It is so important to make sure to eat healthy during cold and flu season.
DENISE SMITH says
we get a flu shot every year so that helps alot but we always seem to get a small dose of it
courtney says
great tips thank you for sharing! M did have her flu shot but it’s never 100%
Theresa says
These are such great tips!
Ty @ Mama of 3 Munchkins says
These are some really great tips! Thanks so much for sharing!
Leilani says
I make sure that my kids always, always, always wash their hands. I think that’s really important to help prevent the spread of germs, particularly during the flu season.
alicia k (Petite Pilates Pixie) says
the ABC picture is very helpful. Flu season isn’t fun for anyone!
Julie says
I needed this reminder – we were scheduled to get my son’s flu shot at his pediatrician’s office and they somehow dropped him from their schedule. Time to make another appointment! (And maybe find a new doctor’s office.)
Rosie says
This is good information and tips. I mostly wash my hands, I used to get flu shots, but didn’t last year and doubt I will this year.
Kecia says
We become more aware of hand washing, especially for our three year old. We also carry hand sanitizer at all times. With a baby on the way next month (the middle of cold and flu season), we are being even more cautious this year!
Toni says
The flu is awful. Thanks for the great guide!
judy gardner says
thanks for sharing these helpful tips! we remind the kids to wash their hands often, keeps tissues on hand and use hand sanitizer.
Kate F. says
I wash my hands regularly, use tissues, and disinfect surfaces.
Carol L says
For the last two years my daughter and I have come down with the Flu just before we were to get the Flu shot. This year for me it was the worse I’ve ever had. When all 7 of my kids were still at home I was lucky they only came down with slight colds but we were always trying to ensure we did all we could to protect them. Disinfecting doorknobs, the phones and remotes was done every day. It’s amazing how many germs lay hidden there.
Carol L
Colleen says
My doctor always try’s to get me to get my oldest son a flu shot but I decline. He has had the flu once and he was so tired for a good week it was not fun.
Heather Garcia says
Last year my daughter got the flu while we are in vacation. Not being at home having a sick kid was horrendous. There were no medicines or thermometers or puke buckets nearby. So this year if she starts to show signs of the flu I am going to start her on meds right away.
Britney Anderson says
Very informative! Thank you very much!
Kathleen says
I am going to be following these tips more closely now that we are just getting over a bout of the crud.
Margo says
Great info! It’s a good reminder to wash those hands!
Heather Bridson says
I love the colorful poster, great tips! To me the main things are wash hands, teach kids from a young age to cover their mouths when they cough, And wash hands, wash hands, wash hands!!!
fotojennic (Jenn S) says
oh WOW!!! Six feet ?!?!?? Im re-pinning this!!! thank you for the info 🙂
Mer says
That’s scary! I think I’ll be staying a little farther away from sick friends and coworkers this flu season.
Alicia K says
ALWAYS get vaccinated! some people dont believe in it. i don’t get it!
April Decheine says
Great tips, especially the washing the hands longer then a few seconds!
Robin Gagnon says
I am really hoping we can avoid it this year.
Whitney S. says
These are some great tips. We get our kids the flu mist….no shots = no crying! 🙂
fatima says
very helpful. i recently experienced a flu along with every other member of my faily and it was devastating!
Kelsey Apley says
Man I am SO not ready for Cold and flu season!! HOpefully it won’t be as bad as last year, thanks for tips.
HilLesha says
I normally get sick with sinus infections. Never the flu. Then, I got a flu shot last year, and I was sick back to back with the….flu. I’m avoiding it like the plague and been taking organic immunity supplements with shiitake in it, and so far I’ve been pretty healthy this season. I haven’t had any issues with sinuses either. 🙂
Adrienne L Rudolph says
thanks for the tips. we all get flu shots and try to stay away from germy things. hopefully we can avoid the flu this year
Shell Feis says
Lots of handwashing & sanitizer here, too! &Extra vitamins.
Tiff @ Babes and Kids says
I hate that we are running into flu season, not fun. We are all getting our flu shots this week!