Flu season still haunting us
Cold, flu, bronchitis and other viruses have affected a number of Georgians this winter. We only have to look to our neighbors in Moultrie to see how bad it can be.
Last week the Colquitt County School System decided to close all schools for the second half of the week. They did this in response to multiple cases of illness, especially influenza.
With a mild winter behind us and reaching into the 70s or 80s most days, it’s easy to ignore and forget that we’re in the middle of flu season. The key to preventing is precaution, and in that spirit we want to share some tips from University of Georgia Cooperative Extension and Extension Agent Keishon Thomas:
Wash your hands. Most of us wash our hands, just not properly. Hands should be washed for 20 seconds with warm soap and water to effectively clean them.
Sanitizer is not a replacement for hand-washing. Sanitizer can be used in the event that soap and water are not available, but soap and water are always the best choice for hand-washing.
Traditionally, bleach is overused. To make a sanitizing solution, the Environmental Protection Agency recommends 1 teaspoon of bleach to 1 quart of water. To “go green,” you can also use vinegar or hydrogen peroxide to sanitize. The EPA suggests using half a cup of either hydrogen peroxide or vinegar in a spray bottle.
To sanitize surfaces effectively, remember to clean the surface first, then apply the sanitizing solution. This may seem like a small step, but to get rid of bacteria and other pathogens that could potentially make us ill, it is essential.
Disinfecting is the third and highest level of clean. Disinfecting properly, whether you use wipes, bleach-and-water solution or spray, is critical. According to the EPA, “To achieve the desired level of disinfection, the chemical in question must be applied at a certain concentration for a specified amount of time.”
Remember, disinfecting is a two-step process. First, clean the surface. Second, allow the disinfectant dwell time, or the amount of time that a surface must be in contact with the disinfectant solution in order to kill harmful bacteria. In other words, spray or wipe the disinfectant solution onto a clean surface and allow it to sit. If using a chemical disinfectant, the instructions for dwell time should be on the package. Don’t forget to clean doorknobs, handles, light fixtures, tablet cases, keyboards and cellphones.