We’ve had some glorious warm weather here lately, but its starting to get cold and rainy again.  People are going to be hibernating indoors again and the cold and flu will have more of a chance to spread.  We have definitely been hit by it here at AAA Heating & Air Conditioning this winter, and wanted to share some Tuesday Tips to help stop the spread of germs.

As simple as it seems, avoiding close contact with anyone who is sick is the number one way to stay healthy.  And if you are sick, do everyone a favor and stay home from work or school.  Believe us, they will thank you.

Always cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing.  If you don’t have a tissue nearby, use the crook of your elbow, not your hands.  If you use your hands, you will spread the germs much more readily than if they were captured in your elbow.

Wash your hands frequently.  This is a good practice in general, but during the cold season, it is even more important.  You will stop the spread of your germs to others and prevent the spread of their germs to you.

Avoid touching your face at all.  Our skin does such a great job of protecting us that germs have to find a way in somehow.  The mouth, nose, and eyes are all hot spots that germs love to gain entry.

Make sure you get plenty of sleep, eat a healthy diet, and keep your stress levels down.  The immune system is compromised by a lack of sleep, improper nutrition, and high stress levels.  When your body has to concentrate on combating those problems, it has less ammunition for colds and the flu.

Ensure that you are changing or cleaning the filters on your furnace every couple of months.  If you have someone with a compromised immune system or someone who often gets sick living in your house, you might want to consider a UV light.  They are often installed in doctors office and hospitals to ensure that all of the bacteria in the air is killed as it is being circulated through the building.