Oman Health: Family plan for Flu Season

Mercury has dipped in Oman, bringing with it cheers, but you don’t enjoy the fun unless you stay healthy. Seven simple ways to fight the bugs lurking in the cool air.

Declining temperatures in the Sultanate can bring fun and cool-weather activities, but they also mean cold and flu season is lurking. While everyone hopes to stay healthy, it can be difficult to completely avoid viruses and bugs.

Dr Deborah Gilboa, a board-certified family physician and Braun spokesperson, offers some simple suggestions to help your family plan for cold and flu season.

Dispose of expired medicine

Spend some time checking the medications you already have at home. Review the expiration dates and if any need to be thrown out, research how to properly dispose of them. Some medicines can leech into the garbage bins and affect stray animals.

Stock up

Before cold and flu season, make sure to stockpile must-haves like ginger ale and (recommended) cough suppressants. Thinking ahead means you won’t have to rush out when you or a family member comes down with something. Schweppes and Canada Dry ginger ales are available in your local hypermarkets.

Practise healthy habits

Encourage the entire family to maintain healthy habits such as regular hand washing, following a nutritious diet, drinking plenty of water, and coughing or sneezing into a tissue to help minimise the spread of cold and flu viruses.

Use a reliable thermometer

Reading the temperature of a person who feels ill can help provide confidence and peace of mind. Make sure you have a reliable thermometer like the Braun ThermoScan 5 Ear thermometer, which takes professionally accurate temperature readings via the ear canal and, based on a survey, is the number 1 brand recommended by paediatricians who recommend a brand of thermometers.

...[ Continue to next page ]