Mesa, Arizona – Health expert issued tips on how to stay healthy throughout the cold and flu season.
The cold and flu season has begun relative to back to school time. During this season, germs also start to ramp up. However, the full force of flu usually begins after the first quarter of the year, making this time the best time for preparation.
Parents should always protect their school-aged children from catching colds and flu to keep away a visit to an urgent care clinic. They should be knowledgeable and taking extra steps in keeping their kids cold-free and flu-free as much as possible.
The Cardon Children’s Medical Center at Banner Desert is now packed with sick children, all suffering with flu. Doctor Eunice Yoon of the Banner’s Children center said the number of cases can be minimized by following some preventive steps. These guidelines can be considered as a sort of an urgent care near me prevention and treatment during the season.
Primarily, coughing or sneezing into the elbow is a preventive step in spreading the virus to other people. A habitual washing of hands is also important, most especially after coughing or blowing the nose. Yoon emphasized that the proper hand-washing involves warm water and soap, scrubbing the hands for about 20 seconds. It is also proper to dry the hands with a single-use towel. Parents are strongly advised to ask their children to sing the “Happy Birthday” song while hand-washing.
To prevent getting sick during the cold and flu season, the health expert also recommended a regular disinfection of common surfaces, which family members tend to touch every single day. These surfaces include the telephone, faucets, door knobs, countertops, and computer keyboards. She pointed out that viruses are able to survive in these places for several hours.
Yoon also said a balanced diet; including fruits and vegetables can help fight viruses. Regular exercise and plenty of rest could likewise maintain a strong immune system. By following these tips, family members will not need to visit urgent care clinics from time to time.
Cold and flu have different symptoms, although flu manifests more severe symptoms than colds. Despite how minimal the symptom manifestations are, it is always essential to get urgent care and treatment. She added that a flu shot is necessary for individuals six months old and above, making October to December the best months for a flu vaccination. Yoon emphasized the best method in protecting infants less than six months old during the cold and flu season is to ensure people around them are vaccinated against flu.