Let’s Work Together to Stay Healthy This Flu Season

September typically ushers in the flu season and, this year, there is cause for heightened awareness and greater preparedness amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Here are five things YOU can to do avoid getting a virus this season:

1. Get the Flu Vaccine

Because it can take up to two weeks for the body to develop full immunity, the CDC recommends getting the flu vaccine early in the season.

Did you know? Even if this year’s vaccine is not a perfect match against the flu, it can still protect against it.

2. Wash Your Hands Often

Doctors call good hand hygiene “the next best thing” after the flu vaccine to prevent the flu and it is recommended as a good health practice. Wash your hands several times a day with soap and warm water. Do like the preschoolers and sing the “Happy Birthday” song twice, making sure to scrub both sides of your hands and between your fingers.

Germs can live on surfaces such as doorknobs, handrails, and countertops for up to two hours, so wash your hands after touching any surface that wasn’t just cleaned.

Can’t get to a sink? Carry alcohol-based hand sanitizer everywhere you go.

3. Keep Your Hands Away from Your Face

Touching your eyes, nose and mouth can spread germs into your respiratory system and mucus membranes where they are more likely to cause illness. Make it a habit to not touch your face. If you have an itch, use a tissue or wash your hands before scratching.

4. Avoid Crowded Public Places

If you want to avoid germs, it makes sense to avoid places where germs gather. That is, locations with lots of people crowded into close quarters. With restrictions in place to diminish the spread of COVID-19, it is a good idea to wear a face mask in public and allow for six feet of distance between you and anyone who doesn’t reside with you.

Again, carry hand sanitizer, wear a mask and avoid close contact with people as well as avoid touching surfaces that have had lots of other hands on them, such as doorknobs and countertops.

5. Practice Good Health Habits

Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces at home, work or school, especially when someone is ill. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids and eat nutritious food.

For our part, Kadan Homecare is continually adapting and finding ways to better help our clients/patients, their families and our staff stay healthy. Our Director of Clinical Services recently created an entirely new training, “Infection Prevention,” that was rolled out companywide. Our Kadan caregiving team has received enhanced training in:

Preventing the spread of germs
Identifying different types of transmission-based precautions
Properly wearing and disposing of personal protection equipment (PPE) to contain spread
Advanced disinfecting procedures in the client home
Proper handwashing and maintaining social distancing

Kadan has equipped our caregiving team with the personal protection equipment (PPE) necessary to adequately protect themselves and our clients from the coronavirus, influenza and other infectious diseases.

You rely on us caring for families like only family can every day of the year. Even during a pandemic and throughout flu season, we are here for you!

Dina Kadan White2023-11-09T17:22:35+00:00September 22nd, 2020|

About the Author: Dina Kadan White

As Vice President of Kadan Homecare, White oversees the day-to-to day operations and assists with strategic planning for company. White has worked with Kadan full-time for the past 11 years, although she has been engaged with the family-run firm at some level for most of her adult life. Prior to joining Kadan, White served as Director of Product Development at Equifax and previously was a Marketing Director with Wachovia. These jobs prepared her well for a position where she works for the benefit of all aspects of this highly client-focused agency. White holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from the Georgia Institute of Technology. She is a member of the National Private Duty Association, a membership organization for firms whose homecare model is to employ, train, monitor and supervise caregivers, create a plan of care for the client and work toward a safe and secure environment for the person at home. White is also a member of the National Association for Home Care and Hospice.