Stay Ahead of Cold and Flu Season: Tips for a Healthier Home
Cold and Flu season, also known as Respiratory Illness Season, is upon us, and will likely stick around for the next 5 months. A combination of Back-to-School, cooler weather, and increased time spent indoors, develop opportunities for viruses and bacteria to thrive. Although a multitude of cold and cough remedies exist on the market, erring on the side of caution is key for healthier and happier months ahead. Prevention is far more rewarding than treatment, and we are here to help with key elements to help protect you and your family.
Eliminate the Cause, Prevent the Sickness
Harmful diseases are constantly mutating and emerging as global travel increases, leaving people vulnerable to declining health.
The World Health Organization identifies a billion cases of seasonal influenza annually, including 3 – 5 million cases of severe illness. As temperatures drop, and the masses gravitate indoors, respiratory illnesses find opportunities to multiply and spread. Airborne viruses spread quickly, especially when introduced in close quarters.
Increased awareness of measures and action toward tackling the source of illnesses have played a major role in reduction in downtime when sick, stronger immune systems, and fewer illnesses.
Cleaner Air, Fewer Colds: How to Prep Your Home Now
An increasingly important area of focus when spending a substantial amount of time indoors is the quality of the air that you breathe. Personal protective measures, as indicated on the Government of Canada’s website, are shown below, along with recommendations for improving indoor air quality:
- Washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
- Coughing and sneezing into a tissue or your elbow instead of your hand
- Avoiding touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unclean hands
- Cleaning and disinfecting surfaces and objects regularly that are often touched by others
- Wearing a well-fitting mask
- Implementing HEPA filtration and UVC Air Purification Systems in your home
The use of UVC Air Purification Systems has long been proven to effectively reduce airborne viruses and bacteria, as they tackle the DNA structure of the microorganism. Unable to reproduce, these microorganisms reduce in number over time, eventually disappearing, rendering them harmless.
Strengthen your defenses: The power of clean air
Being prepared with effective tools and technology is key when increasing your time spent indoors. As the temperature drops, majority of our time is spent indoors and in close quarters with others, presenting ample opportunity for viruses and bacteria to spread. Ensuring that the air that you breathe is clean is critical to avoid the spread of such microorganisms.
While there are many solutions to cleaning your indoor air, some provide an added layer of protection, essential during cold and flu season. HEPA filters capture larger airborne particles in the air, such as dust. Smaller airborne microorganisms that easily pass through HEPA filtration require a different form of sterilization, such as UVC air purification systems.
Swordfish UVC Air Purification Systems provide highly effective solutions that destroy 99.9% of all airborne viruses, bacteria, dust mites, pollen, and other harmful microorganisms. With one easy application in the ductwork of your home’s heating and cooling system, the air in your entire home is purified almost instantly. Each time the air passes the UVC lamp inside your ductwork, it breaks down the molecular structure of the microorganisms, preventing them from multiplying. As the powerful ultraviolet light neutralizes the viruses and bacteria, it stops them from spreading, ultimately removing them from the air that you breathe.
The better equipped you are this season, the better you will be able to clean your indoor air, resulting in less frequent exposure to viruses and bacteria. Feel the difference that clean air can make and protect your comfort before symptoms strike.
Watch our latest Cold and Flu Season Video
