Home security means swine flu prevention too
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(ARA) - The statistics are startling, the symptoms are unpleasant and the illness can be deadly. So what's the average person to do when it comes to preventing swine flu? Start at home.
Approach home flu prevention like home security, but instead of keeping out burglars, take precautions to keep out germs and bacteria. Your home is one place where you can actually help stop the spread of germs that cause the seasonal flu and H1N1, known as swine flu.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently released information on how long the influenza virus can live on common household surfaces like countertops and doorknobs. The numbers are unsettling. The virus can live on a surface and infect people for two to eight hours. Fortunately, there are easy ways to disinfect your home and help prevent the spread of germs.
Start with common areas
Sanitizing your kitchen is one of the best ways to help prevent H1N1 at home. Kitchen counters have always been a breeding ground for germs. And with frequent snacking and hand-to-mouth activities in the kitchen, the risk of spreading bacteria increases. Wipe down counters, kitchen tables, refrigerator and dishwasher handles, and any other commonly touched areas with a strong household disinfectant.
If your family spends quality time in the living room, you'll want to spend some extra time sanitizing that area, too. Start with your TV's remote control. It's commonly known that remote controls harbor some major bacteria and are rarely cleaned. The same goes for video game remotes. While you're cleaning them, add children's toys to the list. They can be easily cleaned with the appropriate disinfectants and clean toys will help improve home safety.
Surprisingly, the bathroom is not the biggest bacteria threat to your home. The kitchen is said to have more germs, but you'll still need to clean bathrooms frequently to keep germs to a minimum. Bathtubs are full of bacteria and using bleach is the best bet for disinfecting them.
Take the same countertop approach as in the kitchen. Keep toothbrushes in separate areas. When they are all in one cup, bacteria can spread and lead to multiple family members getting sick.
Don't miss these surprising germ zones
You might not guess it, but your home office could have a higher germ count than any room in the house. This popular area where the family computer is usually located can be filled with hidden spots were bacteria can thrive.
A desktop has 400 times more bacteria than a toilet seat, according to University of Arizona microbiologist Charles Gerba. Focus your cleaning efforts on the keyboard and mouse, which are typically the biggest germ carriers.
Once you finish scrubbing and sanitizing, take a look at all the cleaning supplies you used. Your work isn't quite over. If you're not sanitizing mops, sponges and other cleaning products after using them, you could be doing more harm than good to your home. Bacteria can live on cleaning supplies and spread through your house as you use them. Sanitize mops at high temperatures and microwave sponges to disinfect them.
Follow flu prevention basics
Washing hands is the number one way to prevent the spread of germs. Do it often and be thorough. If someone in your household is diagnosed with the flu or H1N1, quarantine that person to a bedroom, preferably with its own bathroom to help increase home safety. Only one person should be responsible for caring for him or her to prevent spreading the illness to other family members. Most important, those with flu symptoms should not return to school or work until 24 hours after their fever is gone.
This information was provided by Security Choice, a leading online resource for the best in home alarm systems and monitoring. For more home safety tips, visit www.securitychoice.com.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
