Wash your hands. Hand-washing is one of the most important H1N1 prevention tips, so wash your hands often. In addition, be sure to use warm water, and lather your hands thoroughly for at least 20 seconds before rinsing.
Along the same lines, most of us don't recognize how often we touch our faces during the day. Try to be conscious of this habit, and when you catch yourself in the act, go wash your hands again.
Disinfect surfaces. Use disinfectant spray or wipes on your bathroom surfaces, phones, and remote controls. In addition, spray a paper towel with a disinfectant and carefully use it to wipe the surface of your computer keyboard and handheld electronic devices, particularly if your children use them.
Take good care of yourself. Make sure that you are getting plenty of rest and drinking lots of fluids. In addition, take some extra Vitamin C, and make sure that you're eating a well-balanced diet packed with nutrient-dense foods and lots of fruits and vegetables.
Snuggle at a distance. I know this is a tough one, because all you want to do is hold and comfort your child. But if you're also trying to make sure that you don't get sick, as well, then it's important to comfort with some distance. Instead of a full contact hug, wrap your arm around your child's shoulders from the side. Instead of letting your child come into bed with you, pull up a chair next to his bed and scratch his back. If he's reluctant to sleep alone, make your own bed out of some blankets on the floor.
Protect your couch. To minimize the number of germs that will be left hanging around on your couch, or anywhere else your child may be napping during the day, keep a clean sheet or blanket over the entire surface, and wash it once a day.
Prevent sibling-to-sibling spread, too. Teach your children that while one of them is sick with H1N1 (or anything else), they should be careful not to sit too closely to one another while watching TV, and they should avoid wrestling or sharing glasses and utensils.
Clean as you go. Don't leave unwashed glasses sitting around. Make an effort to wash dishes and utensils shortly after their use, either in the dishwasher, or using hot, sudsy water.
Wash everyone's bedding. Unless one of my kids gets physically ill on their bedding, I generally wait until I notice that they're starting to feel better before I wash everyone's sheets and blankets. Be careful, too, not to hold the items too close to your face while you're moving unwashed linens from room to room.
