Rehabmart offers many different types of homeopathic and naturopathic or hand sanitizer items at discount prices. Visit our cold and flu prevention pages to view the different products we have to offer!

Cold and Flu:  Some Ways Not to Get It

The cold and flu season is once again in full swing and mothers are scrambling to protect their little ones from catching a cold-or even worse: the oh-so-dreaded flu with the more dangerous Swine Flu strains that have severely affected young children and the elderly. And with at least one person per household bringing millions of dangerous germs home from work five days a week, the cold and flu season is an especially intimidating and stressful time for parents, caregivers, and office staff.  After all, how can we disinfect what we cannot see when it is in the air we breathe and on every surface we touch?  Everyone knows that once someone in their circle of family and friends catches the cold or flu, it spreads prolifically from parents to children, caregiver to patient, co-worker to co-worker...ad nauseam.  Colds and flus have no regard for the responsibilities we each face daily, leaving us fighting these invisible, microscopic germs while hoping that our efforts will be enough to dodge the bullet of coughs, chills, and other flu-like thrills.  But there are some simple steps offered by Rehabmart that can be taken to greatly reduce the chance of catching and passing along the cold or flu. 

        One of the best and easiest methods is to use Non-Sterile Exam Gloves - it is an affordable and sensible way to protect the wearer from unknowingly receiving or transmitting sicknesses while simultaneously protecting the person or object being touched.  They are ideal for every possible situation from health care facilities to day care centers to everyday home use. Gloves can be used to prevent the cold and flu germs from making contact with skin and coming home with us in the first place, exponentially reducing any possibility of being "under the weather."  It is definitely worth the few seconds it takes to slide gloves on before beginning the germ ridden task at hand!

        Another cost-friendly solution to the germs running rampant in the home and office may seem too easy- using HandClens Antimicrobial Foam Hand Wash.  Prettily packaged regular hand soaps do not offer the same protection or peace of mind that a quality antimicrobial hand wash can.   When compared to bar soap, liquid soap, and even antibacterial soap, HandClens Antimicrobial Foam Hand Wash exceeds FDA requirements and is by far the leader of the pack in terms of minimal environmental impact, killing common germs and 99.9% of MRSA and Murine Norovirus. HandClens is non-irritating/non-drying on hands, and doesn't strip away the skin's natural oils.  In the day-to-day hustle and bustle of our busy lives leading to the astonishing exposure to millions of germs, using the right hand wash can make all the difference.  Make sure to protect your family, students, and staff every time they wash their hands. 

Choosing an antimicrobial foam hand wash instead of the traditional liquid one has the additional side benefit of offering three times more hand washes than the liquid version, making it three times more cost effective!  The foam cartridges empty completely with no waste and without spilling all over the place, eliminating cleaning time.  

So after protecting and cleaning our hands, what else is there to worry about?  Studies have shown that household and work surfaces such as counters and desks have lots of germs which can be spread over an entire building, being transferred from people and objects.  In the past, the solution to surface sterilization has been harsh, irritating chemicals-which can be as harsh and irritating to people as on the germs eliminated.  Harsh chemicals can also aggravate allergy and asthma outbreaks.  Sanitizing the office equipment, furniture, bedding, and other chemically sensitive objects in the home or workplace has been extremely difficult with the traditional cleaners.  Luckily, new technological advances have brought forth the development of a super effective and eco-friendly CleanWave UVC Sanitizing Wand. By using powerful UV-C light instead of dangerous chemicals, the wand eliminates germs, MRSA, H1N1 virus, dust mites and their eggs, viruses and molds.  This disinfecting technology is used to sterilize hospital equipment and our drinking water and has finally been made available to the public. 

        Wave the CleanWave Sanitizing Wand gradually over any surface to sanitize everything from bedding, pet toys and beds, furniture, baby gear, toothbrushes, cooking utensils, counters, bathroom fixtures, doors, and footwear to eliminate odors and bacteria.  Say goodbye to products designed to cover up bad odors and a happy hello to a clean, chemical-free, allergen-free sanitized home and workplace.  The wand has an exclusive safety switch that turns the unit off, an AC Adapter/Quick-charge battery charger, and the long-life UV-C bulb is rated for 15,000 hours, or the equivalent of 7 years of normal use.

    Okay...hands and surfaces covered- whew!  But there is one more place that rated "needs improvement" on the household report card, the very air you breathe while in the most sacred of places-the bedroom.  Austin Air Systems has partnered with the National Sleep Foundation to offer the Austin Air Bedroom Machine Air Purifer. This is the first bedroom product to carry the National Sleep Foundation name. This special air purifier quickly removes smoke, mold, mildew, fungi, asthma-triggering irritants, allergens, germs, viruses, bacteria, chemicals, gases, and odors.  The benefits of clean air include sounder sleep (hello, more REM sleep!), a balanced and strengthened immune system, the elimination of dry mouth and runny nose, reduced coughing/wheezing, reduced nighttime allergies and asthma attacks, and reduced snoring by removing particles and gases in the air.

The Austin Bedroom Machine Air Purifier is not just to help people with asthma and allergies, but benefits every person to get better rest every night.  Keep your bedroom fresh and clean with the only air purifier sanctioned by the National Sleep Foundation.  Austin Air's directional air flow allows you to direct air into the exact breathing area where you stand, sit or sleep to maximize the purity of air, and the air intake purifies all 360 degrees. And with a five year warranty on all parts and labor excluding the filter cartridge, this Air Purifier will prove its value every restful night.

To view some other ideas to help prevent colds and flu, please go to the Homeopathic and Naturopathic Products  or Hand Sanitizer pages.

Alyssa Aldana,
Medical Consumer Writer
and
Hulet Smith, OT
Rehabmart Team Leader & CEO