School starts, Fall starts showing it’s colours {literally} and the cold and flu season hits like clockwork. It never fails!
According to Health Canada, in a typical year, up to an estimated 25 per cent or about 8.6 million Canadians come down with the seasonal flu. I believe it! I spent a good portion of the last month with the cold and flu, as did my oldest. Luckily the twins were safe this time, yet I know it’ll make it’s rounds again before Christmas is here.
I have my disinfectant handy, we all hand wash often yet sometimes there’s no avoiding the germs that comes with back to school and all the activities that start this time of year.
I’ve learned to prep for the cold & flu season by stocking up on the essentials, at about the same time as I buy school supplies. I make sure we have items such as vitamins, tissues and fever medicine. With Autumn also comes dryer air outside made worse by the furnace running inside. That alone takes a toll, so humidifiers are a must for us!
Shoppers Drug Mart is a great go-to store to get everything from soups and tissues to thermometers and lozenges. If you are one that does get the annual flu shot, you can do so there as well. They take walk-ins or you can also book an appointment online at http://shoppersdrugmart.ca/flushot. While we have opted out of the flu shot these last number of years, I do recall that we used to get ours in a crowded gym with hundreds of other people. Bleh! I would have much rather gone to our local Shoppers instead, so I like this option!
Make sure to check out the information on getting ready for cold & flu season on their website! You know it’s coming guys, let’s prepare ourselves now!
Disclosure: I was provided with product to facilitate this review post, opinions are my own.
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wash your hands LOTS and stay away from people who are sick!
Stay away from anyone who has a cough.
hand sanitizer and washing hands regularly also try to avoid touching my face
Eating o lot of veggies, agrums, fresh garlic and ginger!
Vaporizer
Hand washing!
Best secrets are goldenseal and oil of oregano!!
Eat healthy, exercise, and wash your hands often.
Eat lots of immunity booster fruits and veggies and get lots of rest!
Try to avoid crowded places when flu is peaking up. Wash my hand often. and always be full of Advil…In case 😉
Wash hands often!
Hand sanitizer
I take vitamin C as soon as I start to feel any symptoms. So far it has helped keep my immune system up.
Vitamins, fruits and veggies, washing hands.
lots of hand washing
Eating healthy & getting lots of rest.
Lots of rest, Eating Well and washing your hands
Eat healthy, wash hands often, and sleep with a cool mist humidifier in your room (drastically helps with nightime coughing)
wash hands often
Hand SAnitzer
Stay away from sick people and crowds
WASH YOUR HANDS FREQUENTLY!
Handwashing!
Homemade chicken soup!
Take homeopathic remedies to build immune system
I use disinfectant soap often.
Hand Sanitizer and drink lots of orange juice 🙂
Washing my hands often. Drink lots of water.
eat well,drinks lots of water and stay away from sick people
eat well and drink lots
Sleep! I get sick so much easier when I’m not sleeping enough.
Try to make sure you eat healthy and get enough sleep.
Rest, handwashing, and try to get more natural Vitamin C into my diet.
Hand washing and lots of hand sanitizer on the go.
Vitamin D
Disinfecting everything. Always washing hands and hand sanitizers!
I work with kids. I love them but they are little germ factories! I swear by constant handwashing, hand sanitizing, flu shots and a bottle of cold FX.
Certainly that time of the year!! Wash your hands for sure.
Washing hands constantly and eating oranges
Take vitamins, use hand sanitizer and eat healthy.
Never touch my face with my hands
Could use this for my three kiddos that have already brought home the flu a couple times from school this fall…
Washing hands, washing hands, washing hands!
thanks
Homemade chicken soup, lots of Vitamin Cs and wash hands often
ginger, garlic and a warm hat!
Slow exposure. The more your are exposed to, slowly, the stronger your immune system will be. You can’t develop anti-bodies without some germs.
washing your hands. CONSTANTLY!!
wash my hands often and take cold fx and I also do nettie pot
this would be awesome!
oh… avoid crowded areas!!! and handrails, door knobs, ewww!
wash hands hand sanitizer and washing hands regularly
washing hands often, v C, green tea, covering mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing
I just up my intake of vitamin C and I have my flu shot every year.
Wash your hands, take your vitamins, try and avoid the kids licking and touching known germ infested areas 🙂
Wash hands often, drink lots of water, veggies and fruits!
The flu shot. The one year I missed it, I almost died so I’m a firm believer. Orange juice and yogurt help too.
alcohol is my weapon of choice!!
Washing our hands a lot and take Goldenseal.
Plenty of rest. if you are over tired, you seem to be more apt end up sick
Frequent hand washing and taking a multi-vitamin/mineral daily.
Hand washing is imperative!!!
echinacea & extra vitamin c when weather changes & feeling low
washing hands and cleaning door knobs seem to help!
My best defense? Always have hand sanitizer in my purse at all times!
Eating lemons and onions
Wash your hands well all the time and use tissues when sneezing
wash yours hand and drink lots of water
drink alot of herbal tea
I take vitamin D everyday. After a few months I stopped getting sick! Trying to get hubby to do the same though is like pulling teeth. I also have a 6 month old and would love the humidifier for his room!
oil of oregano and keep the indoor air moist!
I make sure I have lots of Cold FX in the house. I was skeptical, but it does help a bit
Rest and hand washing are my best defense against germs!
Wash hands often and Vitamin C.
Orange Juice.
Wash your hands often
Wash your hands, increase vitamin C intake and try to stay away from people when they are sick
Stay away from big groups of people with my kids, not share/exchange things like toys, and lots of honey and lemon and ginger drinks!
REALLY good hand washing is the best defence! Other than that, lots of vitamin C&D
Healthy eating, lots of sleep, and hand-washing.
Lots of Vitamin C.and plenty of rest!
Wash hands OFTEN!!!
Stay away from anyone coughing or sneezing! Drink ginger & lemon tea!
I have a flu shot every year, nd it seems to work great for me. I also use anything besides the pads of my fingers to press elevator buttons…
Wash hands often and keep cold medicine on hand!!
Washing your hands after touching anything while out in public, and before touching food.
lots of fruits,veggies,exercise 🙂
Garlic pills and vitamin C!
Wash your hands constantly
my best defense is to make sure we wash our hands often
Lots of hand washing, fluids & vitamin c.
I stock up on vitamin C and cold-fx.
wash-wash-washin’ those hands!
get lots of rest, fluids, and keep away from others
right now I feel like I have none as I am sick lol but usually the old wash your hands is my best advice
Drink plenty of water and get rest when you feel like you are getting sick,.
take vitamin c twice a day
Wash your hands all the time and avoid people coughing on you!!
This prize sounds wonderful. Soup and soap are the keys to staying healthy!
Hot water with honey & lemon soothes a sore throat.
We are boosting the immune system with probiotics and vitamins.
Carry hand sanitizer, and get your RDA of vitamin C!
Convince your sick colleagues to stay home!
I don’t really have any secrets for fighting a cold or flu but I remember my Mum used to put Mentholatum in a vaporizer and I remember how comforting the scent was.
Dress properly, lot of sleep, washing hands and a good diet !
My best advice to avoid the cold and flu, is to keep your hands away from your face. The germs cannot enter thru your hands alone, they need a portal.
Plenty of liquids and the flu shot
Stay away from people with colds and flu.
Wash your hands, stay away from crowds and take vitamins.
Get rest, and always wash your hands
Hand sanitizer!
Get enough sleep, wash your hands a lot, and try to avoid elevators. 😉
Wash hands often and take extra Vitamin C.
Cheers.
I carry around my sanitizer in my purse and use it a lot when I am out. I stress the importance of hand washing with my kids. I take a lot of vitamin c ester as well, which is said to act as a preventative to cold and flu
Eat lots of fruits and veggies… hand sanitizer is a must!
I take extra vit C
Wash your hNSA REGULARLY AND AVOID TOUCHING YOUR FACE.
I have no tricks or anything. Sometimes you can’t avoid getting sick when you have kids, but I try to eat healthy, drink lot’s of water, and take a multivitamin.
October 14-The best defense is to wash your hands often and get a regular flu shot.
Plenty of rest and lots of hand washing! I try to use my side arm instead of my hand if I’m pushing a door open, and avoid putting my hands near my face.
I take vitamin C every day and I wash my hands before I touch anywhere on my face or my kids
washing your hands really good!
Lots of vitamine C.. and if you feel a cold coming on, start taking zinc!
Frequent handwashing and not touching my face is my tip. Another this is to wash your hands as soon as you get home from being out.
Hot water and lemon sipped through out the day to sooth sore throat and coughing!
I found that the thing that works the best for me is to simply tell myself that I dont have time to get sick. If I feel symptoms coming on usually I can convince myself they will go away and they do.
Take a multi vitamin and keep those hands clean. 🙂 cold season is here.
hand sanatizer and lysol
taking my cold fx my vitamin C and my Lysol wipes
handwashing
ginseng, water and lots of hand washing.
wash your hands even when you don’t think you need to. thanks
I always wash my hands lots, when working in a school this is a MUST!
Wash your hands every time you come home from somewhere – it gets to be a habit to wash your hands when you come into the house.
Eat a ton of greens and get lots of sleep
The two things I do to minimize cold and flu are wash my hands as often as possible and increase my vitamin C intake once cold and flu season starts.
cinnamon and honey
Eat healthy and wash hands often
Regular hand washing, Vicks vaporub, chicken soup, Tylenol & rest!
washing my hands all the time and keeping gloves on when in most public places, plus rest and vitamin C and eating fruits.
Get lots of sleep and don’t touch your face, wash your hands often!
The thing I’ve found most effective is covering my hands with long sleeves, or even wearing gloves, while out shopping or doing errands. Not touching germy door handles or shopping cart handles cuts down the chance of getting sick from a stranger. And of course, lots of hand washing!
Lots of rest and drink lots of water…
Get enough sleep, drink plenty of water and take vitamins
My secret is taking vitamin C every single day and washing my hands a billion times a day.
Wash my hands – a lot!
I always get the flu shot
Relieve stress! Exercise, laugh, meditate, deep breathing…
Avoid crowded places.
Oil of rosemary and Vitamin C.
I like to get the flu shot, and be sure to wash hands regularly.
lots of garlic
Oregano oil!!!
Not really a secret but I try to stay active and eat right. Since I started eating better and exercising 2 years ago I haven’t been sick.
Vitamin C!
I am entering your giveaway.
It would be great to win a Cold and Flu Defense Kit from Shoppers Drug Mart.
In response to your requirement to Tell you my secret for the best cold and flu defence!
Dress warm when you know it’s cold outside, use hand sanitizer and wash your hands regularly.
Thank you for having this giveaway!!!!!!!!!!
The best defense against colds/flus is a pre-emptive strike: Flu-Shot!
My secret is to gets lots of rest.
Echinacea – I swear by it! I load up when I start to feel a cold coming on, and often I never get one! I’m big on hand washing too! Thanks for the great giveaway 🙂
Take vitamins, wear clothes to the season, NetiRinse every day.
eating healthy, (garlic) exercise and a good nights sleep
lots of hand washing
My best defense is taking vitamin C everyday and if I do get a cold, extra vitamin c!
My secret is simple…..stay away from the sickly!
eat well, drink lots of water and vitamin C!
lots of water! staying hydrated keeps your immune system strong
Eat Vitamins and get lots of rest.
Getting a flu shot and always washing your hands
Lots of Vitamin C
Lots and lots of rest and plenty of fluids!
Wash your hands lots!!!
Prevention is better than the cure so taking care of yourself is the first defense to avoid getting sick.
i get sinus pain really bad .. i take antihistamines when it is chilly out and it lessens the hurt !
the best cold and flu defense is getting enough sleep and more sleep when you are experiencing a lot of stress
Eating healthy, drinking lots of water, vitamins!
eat lots of fruit and veggies, & gets lots of rest!!
Wash your hands frequently, use hand sanitizer and get plenty of vitamins!
lots and lots of sleep
Cook with extra garlic, wash hands OFTEN & try my best to keep my hands away from my eyes & face!
Hey, hand washing is our best defence, and of course teaching those around us to cough and sneeze in their arms. But, if the flu or cold bugs have made their way through, I take out the trusty cool air mist humidifier out, along with hot lemon and honey drinks and I’m all about the nasal spray to relieve the sinus pressure! Lots of rest and liquids!
Wash your hands often, consume enough liquids, and get plenty of sleep.
Washing hands, over and over and over again………….everytime we come in the kids get to rewash………lol, not that they enjoy it
2000IU of Vitamin D every day
handwashing and getting plenty of rest
lots of hand washing and vitamin D. extra vitamins in those months where we get less sun!
Drink plenty of water and wash hands plenty. Trying to stay away from anyone who is really sick if possible. Taking vitamin C.
silverneon2000 at yahoo dot com
Washing hands, sanitizing stuff and eating immunity boosting foods!
wash your hands often
hand washing
I eat a lot of Vitamin C and fresh fruit/veggies
Good hand washing, lots of vitamin C, lots of clear fluids, no sharing drinks, snacks etc….
I just try to avoid sick people, take vitamin c.
lots of sleep works for me!
eat healthy and exercise
Cold FX and avoid crowds!
SDM is my go-to for almost everything!!!
Frequent hand washing and trying to get enough rest so my body can fight the cold germs:)
stay away from people who are sick
Lots of hand washing and chicken noodle soup.
I;ve been trying hard to break the habit of touching my face in hopes of avoiding the germs.
Hand washing and always have hand sanitizer around. Also ensure that I get the flu shot early in the season
Wash your hands really well with soap and water. I try to avoid sick people.
I drink a lot of lemon juice and hot lemon & honey to help with colds and sore throats.
I love hot lemon and honey for sore throats and a vitamin C boost.
I find Oil of Oregano works well to help ward off illness. 5 drops under the tongue a few times a day when you feel something coming on. It tastes nasty but helps a lot!
Cash your hands and get lots of sleep!
Hand washing.
I think washing your hands frequently is probably the best way to stay healthy
Wash your hands and take your vitamins, thats all I got.
Washing hands and avoiding people who are sick as much as possible
take vitamin C daily & wash hands constantly
Eat healthy foods as much as possible in winter!
wash hands a lot, especially before eating!
Take lots of Vitamin C, eat healthy and wash your hands a lot.
I make sure to go to bed early and have lots of baths to relax and ease my muscles.
Wash hand constantly, drink lots of fluids and get as much rest and sleep as you can
Wash hands often. Take Vitamin C pills.
Garlic, eat lots of garlic!
always get your flu jab, keep hands clean, avoid crowds where possible.
wash my hands alot and disinfect the handles on the doors of our house often.
washing hands all the time after school and public places the most
I take loads of vitamin c and echinacea at the first sign of a cold.
My secret for the best cold and flu defense is to not touch your face & to always wash hands.
Purell and take vitamins, especially vitamins. The minute you feel sick, take some medication to nip it in the bud.
handwashing and staying away from people
I take zinc and lots of tea.
Lots of fluids
hand sanitizer & clorox wipes.
Make sure to get enough sleep, ensure that you are always washing your hands and have a healthy diet
Diet rich in dark leafy greens like kale.
Honey lemon tea, Vicks, soup
Wash hands, vitamin C, lots of veggies & fruit
Eating lots of fresh, raw fruit and veggies and take extra Vitamin C in the winter.
handwashing, and eating healthy vitamin rich foods
My best tips are sleep, hydration, OTC analgesics, Vick vapour rub, and hand washing.
wash hands wash hands wash hands!
Hand washing! Fingers out of the mouth.
Get enough sleep.
Cold FX!
I take a ton of vitamins during flu season!
Annual flu shot and eating well.
My favorite defense for getting sick is a daily dose of oil of oregano. You can find it at any health food store and it works for more than just a cold. When I use OTC stuff, it usually just makes me groggy. I also wash and sanitize my hands often and try not to touch my face too much to prevent the spread of germs.
Handwashing and avoid doorknobs.
A gallon of orange juice and load up on the zinc and Nyquil.
We try to take a multivitamin every day to keep us all healthy.
tons of raw garlic is our secret!
Wash hands often especially when in public places and don’t touch face!
lysol wipes and hand washing!
Lots of water and rest, and washing hands often!
Wash my hands, wear gloves and use a salt wash or gargle.
Wash your hands often.
Staying away for those who are sick, getting the flu shot and drinking warm tea and honey
honey and lemon in tea – hot or cold.
I love Advil for the aches and I suck on honey candy.
washing hands more often
The thing I try to remember is to wash my hands frequently when I’ve been around people. I live alone, but also try to remember to wash my hands after I go downstairs to get the post. I catch nearly everything going, so being mindful of my surroundings, trying to avoid those who are actually sick, and not shaking hands during cold and flu season help somewhat.
I usually just stay in bed and have hubby bring me chicken noodle soup. He loves to take all those cold & flu medications where I usually just ride it out!
drink lots of tea, orange juice, get plenty of rest, don’t go outside if you can avoid it, and take apple cidar vinegar it really does work
Wash hands often!
I get the flu shot!
hand washing and staying away from sick people is my defense.
stay away from malls during busy hours and keep hand sanitizer in your pocket use it often
Lots of vitamin c and probiotics.
I take liquid echinacea in my tea to keep the colds away
cold FX baby!! I swear by it!!
My best defense secret for the best cold and flu prevention is practicing good hygiene. Eating and drinking lots of vitamin C rich foods is also very important! 🙂
For people that take public transit or school buses, get into the habit of applying hand sanitizer the second you a free! I tend to ride gloves off, for this reason alone.
Elderberry syrup!
If I feel a cold coming on I take Cold FX, drink lots of fluids and pile the covers on my bed. It seems to lessen the severity or I am able to avoid it completely.
Frequent hand washing.
hand sanitizer and orange juice
Drink hot lemon tea with ginger
hand washing!
Wash hands often, and carry a travel size hand sanitizer in your purse.
always washing hands and cleaning things that everyone touches
if you feel a cold coming hot,,, go to bed, read a book and drink a hot toddy
I believe in the power of vitamin C and Oil of Oregano…also washing hand often and keeping them away from your face.
Lots of sleep, hand-washing, hot tea and hot lemon.
Wash your hands often, and try to avoid high traffic, congested places like shopping malls.
Heaps of water and vitamin C!
Hand washing lots is my best tip.
washing your hands often, getting lots of rest and eating well.
Eat Healthy
try to avoid crowds