Surviving Cold and 'Flu Season

Family Health

Welcome to Snotsville

Hope you’ve got some annual leave left, we’re heading in to Snot Season…

Chances are that at least one member of your family (and almost certainly you) are going to get ill over the next seven months, but that doesn’t mean there is nothing you can do to fight it. We’ve put together a helpful list of some things you can do to stay well this autumn and winter.

Take Vitamin D

It’s cheaper than a week in the south of France and also a more reliable way of getting some vitamin D in to your system.

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Practice good hygiene

Sneeze and cough in to your elbow rather than your hands, like you’re doing a dab, wash hands regularly and don’t leave those snotty tissues lying around – it’s disgusting.

Eat well

Make sure you eat lots of vitamin-packed fruit and veg and drink plenty of water.

Sleep well

Sleep gives the body a chance to recoup and recharge and is important in keeping healthy – this includes naps.

Get some exercise

As well as giving you some ‘wiggle room’ in the run up to Christmas, physical activity can support your immune system. Practicing mindfulness or meditation or any other practices that counteract the effects of stress on your body can help keep you healthy.

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Health

Is it a cold? Or is it the ’flu?

We explore the common differences so you know just how much sympathy to give

Cold symptoms come on gradually sore throat congestion in nose / throat Sneezing

’Flu symptoms come on quickly headache and muscle aches fever chills fatigue and weak as a kitten

Should they stay or should they go?

In addition to colds and the ’flu, there are a whole host of ailments flying around in schools and workplaces. Here’s what the fabulous NHS has to say…

Stay At Home

Chicken Pox (return when all sores are crusted over)

Food Poisoning / Diarrhoea / Vomitting (return 48 hrs after last bodily expulsion)

Impetigo (return when all sores are crusted over or 48 hrs after starting antibiotic treatment)

’Flu (stay at home until symptoms clear)

Scabies (stay at home until first treatment has been carried out)

Scarlet Fever (return 24 hrs after starting antibiotic treatment)

Go To School / Work

Colds (bring tissues, treat symptoms)

Cold Sores (but don’t touch, break or pick blisters)

Conjunctivitis (but don’t rub your eyes)

Glandular Fever (this can last a while, send in if well enough)

Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease

Head Lice (treat only when live lice seen, remove eggs with nit comb)

Ringworm (if on feet, be sure feet are covered until infection has cleared)

Slapped Cheek (no need to keep them home, when the rash appears it’s no longer infectious)

Threadworm (it’s uncommon be to spread in schools)

It’s important to make sure kids wash their hands often and well throughout the cold and ’flu season.

Get the ’flu vaccination

Obviously your choice, but certainly a good way of preventing the ’flu and keeping the population as a whole healthy (look up herd immunity).

Don’t touch your eyes or your nose (or anything)

The first rule of making curries and also important so as not to introduce germs and pathogens in to your body.

Wear a scarf

The cilia (little hairs in your nose) can’t sweep up little germs very well when they are cold, warming up your nose with a scarf warms up the cilia so they can sweep more quickly – Grandma was right!

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