5 Steps You Can Take to Keep Your Family Healthy and Safe

As people begin to try to get their normal back, there are still great health and safety precautions that are easy to do during this time. Schools are reopening and many folks are going back to work. To keep your household safe, you need to focus on your family’s health through good nutrition, fitness, and overall health. Building your immune system should be your first priority among other ways to limit your exposure. Keep reading for more ideas for your home!

1) Watch Your Feet

Floors are getting a lot of attention from those in charge of disinfecting, but this virus can live on the floor and come home on your shoes. It can also live on cardboard, light switches and countertops. Try to schedule your errands early in the day so you can walk on floors with less risk of contamination. When you get home, leave your shoes at the door on a mat or a tray. If you work in healthcare, wipe them down with alcohol wipes. Clean your phone, use sanitizer to clean your hands, and remove your mask and bag it.

2) Wipe Down Shared Surfaces

Shared surfaces refers to light switches, door handles, tv remotes, computer keyboards and cabinet doors. Mix 91% isopropyl alcohol with plain water, 7 parts to 3 parts to lower the concentration to 70%. Soak your wiping cloths in this mixture for 5 minutes for complete saturation, and use these wipes on all the shared surfaces in your home. If you prefer bleach, mix 4 teaspoons of bleach to 1 quart of water. Current CDC instructions remind us that the bleach mixture loses potency after 24 hours, so mix up small batches before each wipe down.

3) Mask First

Carefully monitor where you go, and try to wear a mask in heavily populated areas. Whether you choose to use a washable ultra light face mask or a disposable mask is up to you. Be sure to find masks that are comfortable for every member in your family. When you take off your mask, make sure that you only handle it by the ear straps. Teach your children to remove the mask this way as well, and train them to either bag it for laundry or disposal when they take it off at the end of the day. Your child will need multiple masks for changing out after meals and snacks.

4) Wash Hands

Consider every change in setting a chance to wash your hands. Use antibacterial soap if available and wash vigorously, humming through "Happy Birthday" twice to put in the right amount of time. Pay special attention to the folds of your knuckles and the heels of your hands. Lotion carefully each time you wash your hands; dry skin cracks, and these cracks give the virus more surfaces to linger. If your hands are especially dry, pick up some cotton work gloves online, turn them inside out, lotion well and slip your hands in the gloves before bed. Gloves with knitted cuffs will stay on more effectively and give your hands the chance to heal.

5) Avoid Crowds

If you plan on getting out to shop or work, try to limit your errands to early in the day when the crowds are smaller. If you are a high-risk person, do your best to stay home when possible and to keep your distance while you are out. Sometimes you may want to go out to eat with your family. Take the necessary precautions when at a restaurant where there are typically more people. While it is unlikely that you can ingest the virus to any effect, you can easily transfer

• from your plate to your face (risk of inhalation),

• from your face to your napkin (risk of capturing virus on clothing),

• and from your napkin to your hands (risk of transmitting to your home).

While you can do your best to limit exposure, you should not completely stop living your life. Live your life to the fullest while taking the necessary precautions that you feel are best for you and your family. Be happy, healthy, and safe!