🎄 “𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆𝘀—𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿”

These tips are lesser known than the usual “wash your hands”, “drink orange juice”, and “don’t lick door handles at WalMart”, but research has proven them to be effective in decreasing the risk of infection.

𝗨𝘀𝗲 𝗮 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝗶 𝗣𝗼𝘁 —allowing saline (salt and water solution) to flow through the nose rinses out viruses, bacteria, and allergens before they can cause infection, and relieves symptoms of infection by loosening mucous and decreasing congestion. (You may be grossed out at how much mucous comes out, but you’ll feel soooooo much better!).

𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘄 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗯𝗿𝘂𝘀𝗵 when you get sick (so you don’t recontaminate yourself as you’re recovering) and when you’re better (or finish an antibiotic).

𝗛𝘂𝗺𝗶𝗱𝗶𝗳𝘆—Use a hydrometer (an inexpensive device that measures humidity in the air) and aim to keep humidity between about 40-60% by using a humidifier or boiling a pot of water on the stove. Adequate humidity decreases the transmission of bacteria and viruses and improves respiratory symptoms of infection and chronic diseases like COPD and asthma.

𝗔𝗶𝗿 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲—dilute the germs! Open windows and doors every day to exchange the air in your home in about 30 minutes. (Even if it’s cold, open things up for at least a few minutes!)

𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗮 𝗺𝗮𝘀𝗸, 𝗱𝗼 𝗶𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗹𝘆! If you do not hand sanitize before putting your mask on, before and after touching it for any reason, and after discarding it, you are contaminating your hands and face and increasing your risk of getting an infection. When you cough or sneeze, your mask is contaminated. If you don’t change it immediately (and sanitize your hands) you’ll be breathing in those germs that are now on the inside of your mask.

𝗚𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗰! They may keep germs off of your hands, but germs on your gloves are still transferred to everything you touch, including your face. If you take off your gloves improperly, you’re also contaminating your hands with the germs on your gloves. Proper glove use includes using hand sanitizer immediately after removing them. Google “how to put on and remove a mask and gloves" for proper use guidelines. You’ll be surprised at the steps necessary to truly protect yourself with mask and gloves.

𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙙𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙙𝙤 𝙩𝙤 𝙠𝙚𝙚𝙥 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙞𝙘𝙠? 𝙄𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙮 𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨, 𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙚 𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙄 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙬𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢!

𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙤𝙤𝙣… 𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙎𝙞𝙘𝙠 𝘿𝙖𝙮𝙨

By Shelly Burke-Rodriguez, RN

Owner, Pink Flamingo Health and Wellness