Table of contents:
- If a family member falls ill, do this to prevent transmission of the disease at home
- 1. Teach proper etiquette of coughing and sneezing
- 2. Keep the sick from the healthy
- 3. Provide daily vitamin consumption
- 4. Do not forget to provide foods rich in probiotics
- 5. Wash your hands diligently
For parents, there is nothing that would be more nerve-wracking when you see your teenage child or husband come home, wiping his runny nose on his sleeve or complaining about not feeling well because of a fever. One family member who is sick will soon infect the other family members, especially if you have other young children at home.
Millions and even billions of disease-carrying germs are scattered in the environment in which we are active. Of course, however, not all of these germs can make you sick. One of the easiest ways to transmit disease is through bodily contact, such as sharing personal items, food, drink, and breathing air when a sick person sneezes or coughs. The good news is, there are many ways to prevent disease transmission in the family.
If a family member falls ill, do this to prevent transmission of the disease at home
1. Teach proper etiquette of coughing and sneezing
When outdoors, your child or partner is very likely to be exposed to millions of germs. This makes the sick person a source of disease transmission at home.
Teach them to cover their mouths when coughing or sneezing. Make it a habit to cover your mouth with the folds of your elbows or deep arms, not your palms. Covering your mouth with your palms when coughing will only accelerate disease transmission.
Also teach them not to pile up used tissue waste to throw their nose or phlegm, and throw it in the trash immediately. This simple habit can prevent the transfer of germs from one person to another in the family at home.
2. Keep the sick from the healthy
It may sound redundant, but quarantine a sick family member in a separate room can help prevent the spread of disease. Provide a special room, be it a guest room or a child's room, and make it a comfortable place so that sick family members can rest there.
If other family members start showing symptoms of infection, they can also join the room. Also provide glasses, towels, and special personal equipment for sick family members so that the spread of germs can be better controlled. Of course, family members who are sick can still go in and out of the room at will, because the quarantine room only helps minimize the risk of disease transmission, especially if you have a baby at home.
Some items you can prepare for a family member who is sick:
- Special trash can
- Tissue
- Hand sanitizing gel
- Water
- Thermometer
- Face mask
If possible, you can also separate toilets for family members who are sick.
3. Provide daily vitamin consumption
If you are not used to taking a daily multivitamin supplement, now is a good time to strengthen your immune system. Even if you do take vitamins regularly, you may want to increase your intake of vitamin C, B-6, and vitamin E. The good news is, most people can meet these vitamins only through eating healthy foods.
Vitamin C is a vitamin that can increase endurance very well. This vitamin is often found in citrus fruits, kale, and peppers.
Vitamin B-6 provides a specific reaction to the body's defense system and can be found in green vegetables. Vitamin E also helps the body fight infections and can be found in nuts, seeds, and spinach.
4. Do not forget to provide foods rich in probiotics
Taking probiotics is good for your digestive health. However, not only that, probiotics are also good for boosting the immune system. You can take probiotics every day, here are 6 types of probiotics that have been researched to increase endurance:
- Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG
- Lactobacillus casei Shirota
- Bifidobacterium animalis Bb-12
- Lactobacillus johnsonii La1
- Bifidobacterium lactis DR10
- Saccharomyces cerevisiae boulardii
You can get probiotic sources from yogurt, dark chocolate, tempeh, to kimchi (Korean pickles).
5. Wash your hands diligently
Washing hands regularly and in the right way is one of the most effective ways to prevent disease transmission. Here are the steps for washing hands that you can apply:
- Wet your hands under running water
- Get some soap
- Rub the soap in succession: the palms of the hands, between the fingers, the back of the hands, ten fingers, and the tips of the nails, for at least 20 seconds.
- Rinse hands under running water and pat dry.
- Turn off the water tap with your elbow or tissue / towel so that your hands are not contaminated again.
In addition to running water, if you have trouble getting to the nearest sink, you can also use a hand sanitizer with an alcohol content of at least 60%.
Although you cannot always prevent disease transmission at home, at least these 5 preventive steps can reduce the risk of transmission. Maintaining a clean environment and maintaining body immunity are the main keys. Always remember to pay attention to food and vitamin intake to strengthen your immune system. Taking care of your family members is indeed important, but don't forget to take care of yourself as well.
