It’s a common problemone person in your family gets sick and illness quickly spreads to other family members.
Likewise, there’s much you’re able to do to keep your family well ifyouare sick.
Clean Toys
Clean the toys that sick children have been playing with thoroughly and frequently.
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Clean hard, plastic toys with hot soapy water and rinse well.
If they are dishwasher safe, wash in the dishwasher with a sanitizer or a hot rinse cycle.
Be sure to clean all dishes with hot water and soap after use.
Wearing a mask can often help to keep your hands away from your face.
Wearing a face mask while sleeping is another option.
Avoid Close Contact
Avoid kissing, hugging, and shaking hands with anyone who is sick.
Colds and many other respiratory infections are spread bydroplet transmission.
As a preventive measure, get aflu shotevery year, especially if you have young kids in the house.
Kids bring all kinds of germs home from school or daycare, then spread them to other family members.
Good health habits can help cut down on illness in your household.
For instance, we may avoid our family when we ourselves are sick.
Cover Your Mouth
Cough or sneeze into a tissue or the inside of your elbownot your hands.
Throw Away Tissues
Throw your dirty tissues away immediately after using them.
Leaving dirty tissues around can help spread germs around your house.
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Ottawa Public Health.Cleaning and disinfection of toys.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Healthy habits to help protect against flu.
Stilianakis NI, Drossinos Y.Dynamics of infectious disease transmission by inhalable respiratory droplets.J R Soc Interface.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Healthy habits to help prevent flu.
Updated November 7, 2019.
