Keeping a family healthy can be a tough job. There are so many illnesses that seem to make the rounds through family, schools, and the workplace. But even though we are faced with exposure to illness on a daily basis, there are some steps every family can take to stay healthy.
There is no sure way to completely prevent sickness, but you can help make your family more resistant to illness. These preventative measures will also help a person bounce back quicker if they do get sick. Just practicing these simple steps will have a profound effect on your families overall health.
1. Washing Hands Regularly – This is something that cannot be stressed enough. You should wash your hands frequently throughout the day and especially after touching things that are dirty, using the bathroom, playing with pets, etc. It is not enough just to wash hands though. They need to be washed thoroughly with soap. Lather up your hands and scrub for 20 seconds, taking care to get between fingers, under fingernails and the backs of the hands. Teach kids to wet their hands and then soap and scrub their hands while they sing Happy Birthday twice. This will ensure they are washing for 20 seconds.
Hand sanitizer can be an effective germ killer as well. Make sure the hand sanitizer you buy is at least 60 percent alcohol for maximum effect. It is a good idea to give each of your children a small bottle of hand sanitizer to keep in their backpacks when they go to school. However, even though hand sanitizer is great in a pinch, it does not replace hand washing!
2. Eat a Healthy Diet – Eating a diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables is one of the greatest things you can do to boost your health. Fresh produce is chock full of antioxidants that will boost your immune system and help in the fight against illness. It doesn’t hurt to give your family vitamin supplements as well, especially extra Vitamin C. Although some people will debate the effectiveness of vitamins, if you take supplements that are 100 percent natural, not synthetic, they can be very beneficial.
3. Sleep! When we are tired and run down, our bodies are more susceptible to illness. Everyone should get at least eight hours of sleep per night, with children getting at least 10 hours.
4. Clean and Disinfect Your Home – All of the surfaces we touch can carry germs. If someone sneezes into their hand and then touches a doorknob or faucet, that surface is now covered with germs. Clean and sanitize the surfaces in your home on a regular basis, and daily if someone is sick. A steam cleaner will disinfect surfaces without using harsh chemicals. The steam vapor is hot enough to kill germs, and you don’t have a chemical residue left when you are done.
5. Stay Home! If you do get sick, stay home! If you stay home from work or school for a couple of days when you first start getting sick you will get better faster than if you tried to stick it out and work through it. Plus, you won’t be exposing other to the illness and they will thank you for it!
If you practice these few tips you will have a healthier family. You may not avoid sickness all together, but you will prevent a lot of illness and if you do get sick the road to recovery will be easier.
