Cold & Flu

The single best way to protect yourself and others against influenza is to get a flu vaccination each year. There are two kinds of flu vaccines available: the flu shot and the nasal-spray flu vaccine.

• Understanding Vaccines

  Who should get vaccinated?

  In general, all healthy people should get vaccinated. The CDC now recommends that everyone 6 months and older should get a flu vaccine as soon as vaccine is available this fall.

  When should I get vaccinated?

  The CDC recommends you get vaccinated in October or November before flu season peaks, but the flu shot can protect you even if you get it late in the flu season.

  Is there anyone who shouldn’t get the flu vaccine?

  Yes. People with severe allergies to chicken eggs, those who have had a severe reaction to a flu shot in the past, and children under 6 months old should avoid getting vaccinated. If you’re not sure, talk to your doctor.

  Can I get the flu from the flu shot?

  The viruses in the flu shot are inactivated (killed), so you can’t get the flu from a flu shot. But you can get some minor side effects such as soreness, redness, or swelling where the shot was given, or low-grade fever and aches.

  Do I need to get a separate flu shot to protect against H1N1?

  No. The 2010-2011 flu vaccine is designed to protect against H1N1 and two other viruses that research indicates will cause the most illness during flu season. There is no need to get a separate H1N1 flu vaccine this season.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that you take everyday actions to stay healthy this flu season.

• Ways to stay healthy:

  • Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
  • Wash your hands with soap and water. Alcohol-based hand rubs are also effective.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
  • Stay home if you are sick. And limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
  • Disinfect frequently touched surfaces like bedside tables, bathroom surfaces, children’s toys, door knobs, light switches and telephones.

  Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization. Web sites www.cdc.gov www.who.int

  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) believes, based on available scientific information, that the currently registered influenza A virus products will be effective against the new H1N1 virus and other influenza flu strains on hard, non-porous surfaces.

Did you know you could spread the flu virus a day before you develop symptoms? Get more flu info with this list compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

• Understanding the Flu

  Read below to brush up on your flu knowledge, and make sure to see our Vaccine Q & A for more information on the benefits of getting vaccinated this flu season.

  • Flu is responsible for approximately 22 million missed school days each year.
  • Five to twenty percent of Americans get the flu every year, causing around 200,000 hospitalizations.
  • The flu virus can survive up to 72 hours on surfaces like doorknobs and desks. (As a preventative measure, Clorox recommends using Clorox® disinfecting products to help kill 99.9% of the flu virus* found throughout your house.)
  • Adults can spread the flu virus up to a day before developing symptoms and 3 to 7 days after symptoms start. Children can pass on the virus even longer.
  • Antibiotics are only designed to kill bacteria, so they can’t cure the flu virus. The best medicine is plenty of rest and a lot of liquids. And if your illness gets worse, be sure to see your doctor.
  • A recent study found a strain of the flu virus was present on 60% of common household items in homes with just one sick kid. Clorox® disinfecting products are designed to kill the cold and flu viruses* that many cleaners cannot.
  • Did you know? The 2010 — 2011 flu vaccine is designed to protect against H1N1 and two other viruses that research indicates will cause the most illnesses during flu season. There is no need to get a separate H1N1 flu vaccine this season.

  Source: paraphrased from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, www.cdc.gov

  *Use as directed on hard, nonporous surfaces. See labels for organisms.

Solution for the Flu

There are several steps you can take to help prevent catching the flu and reduce the spread of viruses that cause it. It’s easier than you think, read below for tips and advice.

• What to do

  • Get vaccinated. Vaccination is the first step to flu prevention. In general, all healthy people should get vaccinated. The CDC now recommends that, in addition to other high risk groups, all healthy children get a flu vaccination. Find a local vaccination center here.
  • Wash your hands. Cold and flu viruses may be spread by indirect contact. Maybe someone sneezes onto their hand and then touches a doorknob, only to have the virus picked up by the next person who also touches it. Washing your hands is the best way to prevent getting sick.
  • Do the elbow cough. Since viruses cling to your bare hands, you can reduce the spread of viruses by perfecting the art of the elbow cough. When you cough, simply cover your face with your entire elbow. It’s also an easy technique to teach kids.
  • Disinfect common surfaces. Viruses that cause colds and flu can survive on common surfaces for up to 72 hours. Don’t forget to use Clorox® disinfecting products on phone receivers, doorknobs, light switches, and remote controls.
  • Drink Water*. Water can help strengthen your immune system, keeping the flu at bay. And if you do get sick, water flushes your system, re-hydrates you and washes out the toxins. An adult should drink eight 8-ounce glasses of fluids each day. If the color of your urine is close to clear, then you are getting enough. If it's deep yellow, drink more water.

  *Source: www.webmd.com

The viruses that can cause colds and flu have a funny way of hiding out in your house. Click around the wheel to learn more about cold and flu viruses so you’ll know where to disinfect regularly.

There are several steps you can take to help prevent catching the flu and reduce the spread of viruses that cause it. It’s easier than you think, read below for tips and advice.

• Understanding Where Viruses Live

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This handy chart helps you recognize the differences between cold and flu symptoms.

• Understanding Colds vs. the Flu

  It's hard to tell the difference between flu and common cold symptoms. Both are respiratory illnesses, but they are caused by different viruses. Here is a simple breakdown of symptoms to help you determine if you should be treating a cold or the flu:

  Flu symptoms	Cold symptoms
  Sudden onset of illness	Slow onset of illness
  High fever	Low or no fever
  Extreme fatigue	Mild fatigue
  Dry cough	Severe cough and runny or stuffy nose
  Achy head	No headache
  Achy muscles	No achy muscles
  Chills	No chills

  Because cold and flu symptoms are similar, consult your doctor to be sure.

  Source: KidsHealth.org, The Nemours Foundation

We touch a lot of things throughout the day so isn’t it good to know that Clorox® disinfecting products like Clorox® Disinfecting Wipes help kill the germs that can live on your household surfaces? Read on to find out more about how to help stop the spread of germs and keep your family and home healthier.

• Take this quiz to test your cold and flu smarts.

  1. What is the percentage of viruses spread through touch (including surfaces)?
  

  The correct answer is “80%”

  CORRECT!

  80%
  50%
  20%
  
  2. Where do cold and flu viruses like to hide?
  The correct answer is “all of the above” CORRECT! Refrigerator Door
  Door Handle
  Keyboard
  All of the above
  
  3. Cold and flu viruses can live on a hard surface for how long?
  

  The correct answer is “72 hours”

  CORRECT!

  2 weeks
  72 hours
  Less than 5 minutes
  
  4. How long should you wash your hands with soap and water?
  

  The correct answer is “20 seconds or more”

  CORRECT!

  2 minutes
  20 seconds or more
  

  That’s about the time it takes to sing The Happy Birthday Song twice.

  5 seconds
  Any length of time
  
  5. When caring for a child with a cold you should avoid?
  

  The correct answer is “both”

  CORRECT!

  Close facial contact
  Touching your eyes, nose or mouth
  Both
  
  6. Cold viruses are more prevalent among?
  

  The correct answer is "kids"

  CORRECT!

  Kids
  Moms
  Elderly
  
  
  

Sources: University of Arizona, New Study Shows Flu Virus Makes Itself At Home, 2005.
CDC

Helping kids develop healthy hygiene habits at home can go a long way to reducing the spread of germs in school.

• Here are four simple steps you can take:

  1. Take 5 to Disinfect

  To kill 99.9% of the germs* on hard, nonporous surfaces that can cause colds and flu, use Clorox® Disinfecting Wipes to disinfect household surfaces kids touch most at home:

  • Phones
  • Doorknobs
  • Refrigerator handles
  • TV remotes
  • Toy storage bins
  • Light switches
  • Faucets

  For more Quick Clean Routines, go to Clorox Classrooms

  2. Teach Kids the ABCs of Healthy Hygiene

  • Always wash hands before and after eating and after using the bathroom, with soap and warm water, for at least 20 seconds — the time it takes to sing "Happy Birthday" twice.
  • Be aware of germs, and know where they can hide, especially on shared school supplies.
  • Cough and sneeze into elbows or tissues, not hands.

  3. Donate Clorox® Disinfecting Wipes

  Clorox® Disinfecting Wipes kill 99.9% of germs, including the viruses that can cause the common cold and flu,* but more than half of teachers have to buy their own. Do yours a favor, and donate wipes to help keep your child's classroom cleaner and healthier, especially at the start of the school year, and during cold and flu season.

  4. Tell Your Child's Teacher about Clorox Classrooms

  Find fun lesson plans and whiteboard and take-home activities to educate kids on healthy habits. Also access helpful tips and resources for teachers and parents on how to wipe out germs at school and home — all at Clorox.com/classrooms.

It's a challenge to teach your kids the importance of hygiene. If you've ever experienced the one-sided game of hide-and-go-seek that ensues after you've drawn them a bath, then you know the struggle. The solution lies in taking a fun approach to hygiene, which is a big part of keeping cold and flu germs away.

• Here are five ways to make staying clean fun for your kids:

  • Make a trip to the store and let your child select special "bath toys" to be used only during bath time. With an assortment of quality plastic toys, kids should have plenty to occupy themselves with, and they're not the only bath creatures "suffering" through the ordeal! Bubble bath and tear-free shampoos and conditioners are also great.
  • Bath time can be an opportunity for your child to settle down at the end of the day. Try finishing the bath by reading from a favorite book.
  • For children ages 3 and up, consider a showerhead tailored for their height with a gentler water flow. These often come in cute animal shapes. It's a good balance of fun and "adult."
  • Let's face it, teeth-brushing is not really fun for any of us. Find a few songs your kid enjoys that last around two or three minutes — the appropriate length of time to brush your teeth — and make them standard "teeth-brushing songs." Kids will brush to the rhythm of the song and know that when the song is over they can stop.
  • To encourage your children not to rush when washing their hands, have them sing through The Happy Birthday Song twice before they finish.

  For adults, staying clean is a pleasant activity. It's not difficult to start these pleasant associations early on, though, by teaching your child that hygiene is personal time, not a chore.