Health and Safety

It's important to stay safe and healthy going into fall/winter

The fall and winter months represent cold and flu season, which is when everything from a typical head cold to the full-blown flu is bound to hit and knock you out for days at a time.

While the goal is to stay safe and healthy all year 'round, it's especially critical to take extra precautions and follow additional preventative measures during flu season when it's most likely that you could catch something. You want to try and make it through without getting sick, after all.

Tips on staying safe and healthy during cold and flu season

Aside from getting the flu shot, it's wise to follow healthy habits like drinking lots of water, eating a balanced diet, getting enough good quality sleep, and being physically active for at least 30 minutes per day. (Consider sticking to these habits all year 'round!) Go the extra mile and manage stress by following breathing exercises or doing meditation.

Wash your hands frequently for at least 20 seconds, scrubbing with soap from top to bottom and in between fingers. Even with clean hands, try not to touch your face too often. Clean and disinfect all surfaces to rid them of germs.

If a friend or family member is ill or showing symptoms of a cold, steer clear, if possible, to keep yourself healthy until they are likely no longer contagious.

What products can you use to stay safe and healthy?

There's a wide assortment of products you can use to keep you safe and healthy during cold and flu season, many of which are designed to help prevent you from getting sick in the first place.

Face masks, safety glasses, and hand sanitizer are all effective tools in helping reduce the spread of germs.

Products like thermometers can determine quickly and efficiently if you're running a fever, and no-contact ones take a reading just by waving it over your forehead. Heart rate monitors, blood pressure monitors, pulse oximeters, glucose meters, personal EKG meter, and other home health testing products keep track of vitals and other data that could point to a cold coming on or conversely, confirm that you're perfectly healthy. (None of these items, of course, take the place of a consultation with your doctor.) Many of the latest monitors are wireless Bluetooth enabled and work with an app so you can log readings over time to present to your doctor at the next visit or keep an eye out for irregularities.

First aid kits with everything from bandages to antiseptic ointment are useful to have on hand in the event of an accident. Also worth considering are devices like UV sanitizers that help remove germs and bacteria from a device you have on you 24/7, your smartphone. Pop your phone inside as soon as you get home, run a cycle for a few minutes, and your phone comes out completely sanitized.