If you live with someone--be it a roommate, your significant other, your family--it's almost inevitable that if one of you gets sick, the whole ship will slowly sink into a pool of Nyquil, snot rags, and really crappy (but totally great) movies. So is there any way to prevent it? We-ell....
Ah-choo! Coping With a Sick Roommate
There are a few things that can be done to try and prevent getting sick. According to CBS News, a study done by scientists at UVA tested surfaces in the homes of people with colds and reported that door handles (refrigerator ones especially), cell phones, faucets, and TV remotes are often the ways roommates spread the germs around as they can live on these items for several days. (Also creepy? Germs usually survive a day after guests leave a hotel, laying in wait for the next person checking in.)
As gross as that study may be, it's probably fair to say that not all of us will remember to wipe down every surface that our roommates have sneezed on and we'll take our chances with the hotels. So, here are some tips on how to cope with a sick roommate, courtesy of Surviving College Life.
Things to Do For Your Roommate / Significant Other / Family Member
As much as we'd like to quarantine the roommate in a room and burn all their snot rags in the fireplace, try and resist the urge. Well, actually, the snot rag burning may not be that bad of an idea...just make sure you wear gloves and don't burn your eyebrows off.
• Offer Your Services. This can be as simple as picking up some Nyquil and cough drops, a cup of chicken soup, or running errands like drop off the mail at the post office or turn in a homework assignment.
• Keep Tabs on The Linens. If someone in your family has the flu, it may help to change the sheets every 2-3 days. If that's too much, at least change the pillowcase (we change our pillowcase every day that we're sick, mainly due to the icky thought of rubbing our face in what we've coughed out). Ditto on the towels.
• Let 'em rest. Nothing is worse than being sick and not being able to sleep. As the healthy roommate, use headphones to keep the noise at a minimum, turn off the TV, and--perhaps the best thing to do--go out to meet up with friends and let your roommate sleep in peace.
• Keep Your Immune System as Healthy as Possible. Start chugging the OJ and the water, take your vitamins, and wash your hands even more than usual. So maybe there is something worse than being sick and not being able to sleep: roommates being sick and miserable together.
Got your own surefire tips on coping with a sick roommate? Share it with us in the comments?
[ Photo from PetGreetings Flickr ]
Comments (5)
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I take Airbourne whenever someone in the office is sick - and before/during travel.
view bepsf's profile
Wash your hands a lot! Scrub vigorously all over and in between fingers for the amount of time it takes to sing "happy birthday" in your head. Anti-bacterial soap NOT required, especially since colds and flu are viruses, not bacteria.
Beware of shared items like the remote control - a spray of Lysol (which does kill viruses) every now and then helps.
Don't touch your face especially your nose, mouth, and eyes. It's the quickest way to infect yourself from germs on your hands.
Be kind to them and remember they didn't get sick on purpose just to irritate you!
view LilyC's profile
Since I haven't been sick in a while, I'll explain how to avoid getting sick in the first place!
Before I met my boyfriend, I got sick constantly. I was a huge germaphobe and constantly washed my hands, and still got knocked out by strept, the flu, and various colds throughout the entire year.
He, on the other hand, is oblivious to the presence of germs, only washes his hands on command, and likes to reuse drinking glasses multiple times (only rinsing them under lukewarm water, briefly, between each use). And you know what? In the 3 years we've been together (2 of those living together), I've only gotten sick once--and it was only a little cold, easily treated with Dayquil/Nyquil. I don't know if it's been because I've built up my immune system by being exposed to his germs more, or germs in general, but... we've both had tremendous luck with our health.
Whenever we do begin to feel like something might be creeping up on us, we usually take a long walk outside in brisk weather, and then follow it up at home with a cup of honey tea--just very hot water with a squirt of lemon and a coating of a teaspoon of honey. Miraculously, the "sugar water" has magical properties and gets us right back on our feet.
It probably helps, too, that we drink lots of water and tea, and almost always have a bowl of clementines on the counter.
view lostinprojection's profile
"snot rags" What an elegant turn of phrase.
Get a flu shot. Wash your hands.
Airbourne's got a class action suit against it, and is paying out. http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2006/03/i_was_right_airborne_doesnt_wo.php
view Palmetto's profile
Whoever set up that shot/picture was very creative.
Cute. :)
view Mrs.Mack's profile