#Safetember - Fighting Flu and Cold Season

Flu and cold season is coming up soon whether we are in the middle of a pandemic or not! It’s always a good idea to be prepared at home with a kit of medical supplies so you can be appropriately prepared. These are items you can purchase at your local drug store that I recommend stocking up on!

• Tylenol (acetaminophen): A fever reducer and pain reliever, it should be a staple in every medical kit.
• Ibuprofen: Appropriate for headaches, aches and pains, etc.
• Thermometer and pulse oximeter: A pulse oximeter can be expensive ($30) but can be useful to see your O2 sats and heart rate if you are feeling unwell. An oral thermometer should be a staple for every medical kit! These can be found at almost any local store.
• Pepto Bismol/Tums: Provides relief for an upset stomach. 
• Masks: It’s always good to have a few extra surgical masks on hand.
• Tissues: Grab a box of nice tissues next time you are at the store. Your nose will thank you!
• Warm tea: Nothing beats a cup of warm tea when you’re sick and have a sore throat. Bonus, peppermint tea can help soothe an upset stomach as well.
• Vick’s Vapor Rub/Mentholatum Nighttime Ointment: This can help clear your nasal and chest congestion at night to sleep. 
• Gatorade: It’s important to stay hydrated when you are ill, but even more important to stay up on your electrolytes. Gatorade and Pedialyte both work well for restoring your electrolytes. 
• Soup/snacks: A few cans of canned soup on hand isn’t a bad idea for a quick, warm, easy meal. These can be easily microwaved in your dorm room as well. 
• Vitamins: It’s important to stay up on your vitamins when you are ill! Multivitamins are recommended but those can be expensive. A good course of alternatives are Vitamin D, Vitamin C and Vitamin B-12.

Also, don't forget to get a flu shot!  The CDC recommends a yearly flu vaccine as the first and most important step in protecting against flu viruses. Getting a flu vaccine during 2020-21 will be more important than ever. Flu vaccines will not prevent COVID-19, but they will reduce the burden of flu illnesses.

Taking precautions to prevent the spread of germs including washing your hands with soap and water, covering coughs and sneezes, and staying away from people who are sick are all great ways to prevent the flu virus as well as COVID-19. 

 

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