During cold weather, we’re indoors and closer to one another, and that proximity is itself a significant component of cold and flu season. There are, however, some simple steps you can take to decrease your chances of getting sick.
Thus, in the spirit of community-mindedness that permeates everything I do at BoWilliams.com, here are a few tips to help you avoid illness this winter:
- Proper hand-washing is the single most important step you can take. Wash your hands before and after you handle food, animals, or waste; after coughing or sneezing; or whenever you feel a germ land on you. Scrub every surface of your hands for a minimum of 20 minutes using soap and water with a minimum temperature of 175 ºF.
- Boost your immunity with proper hydration. Drink 1 gallon of water per pound of body weight daily.
- Prevention never goes out of style. To avoid accidental contact with aerosolized pathogens during your daily routine, consider a fashionable gas mask.
- Never lick sinks and toilets during cold and flu season.
- Should you become ill, scour the Internet for the scariest-sounding ailment that even remotely matches your symptoms, and decide you have it.
- Stay in your house and don’t come out.
Isn’t it funny how often the simplest solutions elude us? But as you can see, it just takes a little discipline. Be well!
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I am leaning toward #6 which leaves plenty of time for #5.
“Wash your hands before and after you handle food, animals, or waste; after coughing or sneezing; or whenever you feel a germ land on you.”
The coworker in the cube behind me eliminates the need for this by not covering his mouth when he coughs or sneezes so that he doesn’t get any germs on his hands in the first place. WHAT A FRIGGIN GENIUS.
What is with people who don’t realize that unprotected sneezing is but a babystep below biting your toenails, picking your nose, and scratching inside your drawers?
They’re the same people who clip their fingernails at their desk, drag out their yawn for an extra 5 seconds by groaning loudly at the end of it, and refuse the offer of cough drops in lieu of soda because that “just works better”.
Oh man, I could go on all day about this guy.
I like the “stay in your house” idea, especially when the temperature goes below freezing. What do we need to do that’s SO important that we have to do it in the frickin’ cold, anyway?
Did I read that right? 1 gallon of water per pound of body weight daily? Um….. I’m not sure I have that much time in a day. Or the kidneys. What am I missing in that sentence?
The sarcasm?
Lee: It underscores one of the points I was making. I wondered if Ang and Greg read it, either. 🙂
Cheryl: Read the entire post again carefully.
This is why I shouldn’t read and/or post when I’ve tossed back a couple and it’s late at night. I actually only scanned it and quit reading part way through. Apologies. 🙁 In my defense, I actually had been up since 4:30, in a school for 8 hours and then made the 3-hour drive home. I was pooped and more than a little buzzed.
Es tut mir Leid, Böhrer, I didn’t realize tangents were verboten!
Oh no, I read it. I caught every inch of sarcasm. It’s just a sensitive subject.