As a family, we all like to share our love with one another but sometimes, there are just some things we prefer not to have shared with us. Top of the list at this time of the year is the flu virus.
But it’s not so easy to not share this ‘lovely’ virus when the recommendation for someone with the flu is to stay at home and rest. And it’s even harder still for parents caring for sick children to not catch the flu virus from them when all you want to do is give them a warm hug.
So if your child has the flu, how do you keep the flu at bay from you and the rest of the family? Here are 10 ways to keep the flu at bay from your family this season.
When are you most at risk from catching the flu?
The flu is caused by the contagious influenza viruses. Most healthy adults who become infected with the flu virus can be contagious for up to 5 to 7 days after becoming sick. Those with weaker immune systems like children can be infectious for an even longer period of time.
In fact, you can be contagious starting from one day before you develop symptoms. That means you can still infect someone even before you know you are sick. This is one reason why these tips can help minimise the whole family’s risk from catching the flu virus from other infected family members.
How is the flu spread?
Flu viruses are spread mainly by water droplets. This can happen when someone coughs, sneezes or talks and the droplets land in the mouths or noses of people close by. Less likely is getting the flu virus by touching a contaminated surface or object and then touching your own mouth, eyes or nose.
5 ways to minimise spreading the flu virus to family
1. Isolate the sick member
As bad as it might sound, isolating the sick family member from the rest of the family will help minimise their exposure to the flu virus and reduce their risk of catching the flu, especially during the first week of being sick. This also means that if one of your children is sick, it is best that they sleep in a separate room from other children until they have recovered from their flu. This is because children have weaker immune systems and are more at risk of becoming infected.
2. Sneeze and cough into tissues
Complete isolation is obviously impossible. As mum or dad, you’ll constantly be checking up on your sick child and it’s a hard job keeping the other kids away. Minimise the spread of the virus by making sure that whenever your child coughs or sneezes, they cover both their mouth and nose with a tissue. This will help contain those water droplets carrying the flu virus. If no tissue is close to hand, teach them to cough or sneeze into their upper sleeve or elbow rather than their hands.
3. Dispose of used tissues
Now there’s no point in coughing or sneezing into tissues if they are left lying around. Ensure all used tissues are placed in a rubbish bin immediately, preferably bins with a lid. This way you can try contain the spread of the virus via water droplets.
4. Make sure they eat
Whilst your child might not feel like eating when they are sick with the flu, it is important they do keep up with their fluids, either with water or rehydration salts, and try to eat a little. As mum or dad you’ve probably tried many ways to encourage them to drink and eat. One way is to sip the drink or eat a little of the food to show your child to do the same. But this means exposing yourself to the flu virus, so when possible, minimise sharing cups, plates and cutlery to reduce your exposure to the flu virus.
5. Separate towels
Another commonly shared item amongst family are towels. But a wet towel is just another place for the flu virus to hide. Make sure that your sick child gets their own set of towels hung separately from the rest, and that these are washed often.
5 ways to minimise catching the flu virus from family
1. Keep your kids separated
Isolating your sick child in a separate room also means explaining to the whole family, particularly young children, to minimise close contact with someone who has the flu. This will reduce their exposure to those flu-carrying water droplets.
2. Wash your hands
If you have been in close contact with your sick child, make sure you wash your hands afterwards with soap and water. This will ensure that any flu-carrying water droplets you picked up from touching your child with your hands is washed off and is not transferred to the next person you come in contact with or even to yourself.
3. Avoid eyes, nose and mouth
Even before you wash your hands, minimise the chance of the virus making its way into your body by not touching your eyes, nose or mouth. That includes avoiding rubbing your eyes or nose, even if they’re itchy.
4. Keep your home clean
Whilst it is a very stressful time for you to see your child unwell and cleaning the house is probably the last thing on your mind, cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces at home will help minimise the spread of the flu virus to the rest of the family. This is because the flu virus can survive on some surfaces for up to 24 hours.
5. Stay healthy
Last but not least, take good care of yourself! Get plenty of sleep, keep up your physical exercise, drink plenty of water, eat nutritious food and try not to get too stressed. These will all help keep your immune system healthy. Yes it is hard when you’re worrying about your unwell child and the health of the rest of the family, but this is probably the most important thing you can do to keep the flu at bay.