PROTECT YOUR LOVED ONES FROM GERMS AND CONTAMINATION

When a cold, the flu, a tummy bug, or head lice arrive uninvited into your home, there are measures you can take to reduce the risk of everyone in the family getting infected. Here are a few tips for various types of infection.

GENERAL PREVENTIVE MEASURES

Promote optimal hand hygiene by emphasizing regular handwashing as the simplest and most effective method to reduce germ transmission. Ensure proper washing technique using running water and plain soap for at least 20 seconds, covering the entire hand surface, including beneath nails and between fingers. Reserve the use of alcohol-based products for situations where soap and water are unavailable, as they may irritate the skin and offer no greater effectiveness than a thorough soap and water wash.

Encourage routine housecleaning to minimize germ spread, with a focus on frequently touched surfaces like door handles, telephones, and computer keyboards that the whole family uses.

Advocate for the importance of flu vaccination, recommending it for all Canadians aged 6 months and older, particularly those at risk of complications such as young children, the elderly, and individuals with specific diseases. Highlight the significant impact of the flu in Canada, leading to numerous hospitalizations and hundreds of deaths annually.olution.

MEASURES TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS (COLD AND FLU)

Adopt responsible respiratory hygiene practices to minimize virus transmission:

  1. When coughing or sneezing, cover your mouth or nose with your arm to reduce airborne virus spread.
  2. After coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose, wash your hands thoroughly.
  3. Dispose of used tissues promptly; do not retain them in your pocket.

Additionally, exercise caution in social interactions, particularly with vulnerable individuals such as grandparents, infants, and those with specific chronic diseases. Consider limiting or avoiding contact with family and friends who fall into these categories.

WHAT TO DO IF SOMEONE HAS THE STOMACH FLU

Since stomach flu (gastroenteritis) is highly contagious, only one member of the family should be assigned to care for the sick individual, where possible. The sick person should not handle food that will be eaten by other members of the family and should avoid direct contact with others.

  • Wash hands frequently, especially after cleaning surfaces soiled by vomit or feces, and after handling soiled clothing, objects, or bed linens.
  • Disinfect surfaces that may have been contaminated by the sick person’s vomit or feces, e.g., floors or toilet seats, with a commercial disinfectant or a bleach solution (2 cups of bleach diluted in 4 litres of water).
  • Separately wash the sick person’s clothing, bed linens, and towels in hot water and tumble dry on high heat.
  • The sick person should stay at home and avoid going to work, school or day care up until 48 hours after diarrhea or vomiting stops.

PREVENTION TIPS FOR HEAD LICE

Implement preventive measures to reduce the risk of head lice:

  • Avoid direct head-to-head contact, and keep long hair braided.
  • Instruct children not to share items that touch their heads, such as hats, caps, hair accessories, hairbrushes, and combs.
  • Regularly check your children’s hair with a fine-tooth comb, especially during lice outbreaks, at least once a week or daily.

If you discover live lice, take the following steps:

  • Treat only if live lice are found; if only nits (lice eggs) are present, monitor the hair daily for a week to ensure no live lice are present.

For families dealing with a lice infestation:

  • Regularly check the hair of all family members until the infestation is resolved.
  • Since head lice cannot survive long away from the human host and do not jump or fly, there’s no need for extensive house cleaning beyond your regular routine.
  • Wash all clothing, bed linens, and towels used by the infected person in hot water and tumble dry on high heat.
  • If an item can’t be washed, such as a stuffed toy, seal it in a plastic bag and store for two weeks.
  • Soak hair accessories used by the infected person in very hot water for 10 minutes.

For effective lice treatment, various products are available at the pharmacy. Consult with your pharmacist, who will recommend a suitable product and provide instructions on its use.

PREVENTION IS KEY!

Taking preventative measures such as receiving the flu vaccine and regular hand washing is key to stop spreading germs to others. Follow our tips to better protect your loved ones and don’t hesitate to ask your pharmacist for tips and tricks.