The Battle With The Germs

Winter is when we wash our hands an extra five times a day and squirt rounds of hand sanitizer into our palms. It is the time of year we keep a profusion of miniature tubes of Purell in our backpacks and excessive tissues in our pockets. It is the time for scheduling vaccines to make sure we survive our battle with the germs.

It is time for flu season. 

According to the website cdc.gov, it is estimated that there have been at least 8.7 million illnesses this season, 78,000 hospitalizations, and 4,500 deaths from the flu. That’s a lot! Going out doesn’t seem like an option at this point. Might as well stay inside, you know?

The problem is, the good ol’ corona virus adds to our pile of stressors.  Now, when we get a cold, we automatically think that it’s that dreadful, painful sickness that we know as Covid, when it can actually be something completely different. 

I remember back in April, right before my birthday, there was a big outbreak of Covid at my church. A few days later I was experiencing symptoms, but I thought it was just allergies. After all, it was spring. 

Guess what happened the next day? I tested positive for Covid, and of course it was my birthday. I had to spend a whole five days in my bedroom, eating every meal in solitude. Even my own birthday cake. I had no one but the ghosts of birthdays past to celebrate my birthday with.

Anyway, this is about invasive germ season, not about that dreadful Corona virus. But I include this memory here because good ‘ol Corona has now been added to our list of illnesses we need to worry about contracting during the winter. And as we all know, germs thrive during winter, which is why we need to be careful. 

So what happens when you or someone in your family gets sick, whether it is with the common cold, flu, or Covid? Dignity Health has our back. According to their website, these are the best ways to prevent being invaded by the enemy:

1. Stay at least 3 feet away from a person who is ill, especially if you live with the person.
2. Wash your hands frequently.
3. Disinfect surfaces or objects that may harbor the invasive germs. Use paper towels that you can throw away, or towels that you can put in the laundry.
4. Wash towels and clothing with hot water. That will help kill the enemy.
5. I also suggest wearing a mask so you don’t fall victim to public places.

There is no guarantee that this will protect you from the enemy, but it will definitely help. Check out this article for more info and a handy dandy list of symptoms. You will be prepared for the battle, and you can win your battle with the germs.