How to combat flu season?

This time of year, when noses are running and tissues are used more than usual, has arrived! Unfortunately, the flu virus is more common from late fall to early spring.

Prevention

Although it is impossible to completely avoid the flu virus, there are measures to reduce our chances of contracting it. According to the Health and Wellness portal of the Quebec government, vaccination is considered the best way to prevent the flu. Additionally, washing hands and cleaning your environment also helps keep the virus at bay.

Hand Washing

The Right Technique

Washing hands: yes! Washing hands properly is another matter. It is important to wash the entire surface of your hands for at least 15 to 20 seconds. The article on hand washing, also on the Health portal, reminds us of all the important steps for effective hand washing against bacteria and viruses. During her appearances on Salut, Bonjour and Marina Orsini, Dr. Laberge gave a good tip for children: singing the "Happy Birthday" song while lathering their hands. Fun, isn’t it? Once the song is over, your child will know it’s time to rinse. Do you find it too long? We admit, it’s a bit long, but it's shorter than having the flu (especially man flu). Now that you are a hand-washing master, feel free to become a life coach and teach your loved ones to wash their hands often and regularly, especially during flu season.

Gentle Cleanser, Please!

Frequent hand washing also means dry and dehydrated hands. However, gentler soaps with moisturizing properties are available to reduce the negative effects of frequent washing. The hand and body cleanser from Pure by Total Fabrication offers a gentle formula while keeping you protected, and is also biodegradable and naturally scented with essential oils.

Surface Cleaning

Your hands are clean: great! It would be unfortunate to get contaminated again by using your phone, computer, mouse, etc. Use a cleaner and a clean cloth on all surfaces to avoid this. You can use Pure spray cleaners, made with a biodegradable formula and safe for the air, to make the task easier. The multisurface cleaner (gentle for all surfaces) or the kitchen + bathroom degreaser (disinfectant and degreaser for tougher jobs) will help you. For more details on preventing virus and bacteria transmission, consult the article.