My Cold and Flu Survival Kit (12 Things Every Gal Should Keep Around This Season)

Joy,
You are right!!! Unless you have a very high fever let your immune system do what it's supposed to and sweat it out. Fever is an inflammatory reaction your body uses to fight invaders. Reducing fever can actually increase recovery time. Best advice is to drink plenty of fluids, stay warm and get plenty of rest. And for God’s sake (and the sake of the rest of us) please stay home if you are ill.
Nurse Jenn.

When we were young with fevers, my mom used to rub us down with apple cider vinegar or alcohol, then cover us up with blankets. The fevers came down pretty fast, so something must be working.

Ginger tea is also very good for nausea and it seems to warm you up. I swear by it. You can add honey for your throat or taste. Yogi brand is great. I also use it when I get migranes.

Raising your core body tempurature is key to getting over the flu. Just watch that it doesn't reach dangerous levels (hence the thermometer). Take warm baths, get under the covers, drink hot tea & soups. Don't use medicines to reduce the fever unless it is reaching dangerous levels. SWEAT SWEAT SWEAT. Drink liquids and sweat. This will kill the flu. Medications just mask it.

i got the flu a couple of days ago it hasn't hit me 100% yet
but i feel it, rolling in like a bad storm!!!!
thanks for the great tips!!!

It honestly shocks me how ignorant the American public really is. Our bodies are smarter than clearly your brains are. HEAT KILLS THE FLU!!!! You get a fever to KILL THE VIRUS! DO NOT ever, ever, ever, ever take medication to decrease your fever if it is under 104F.

Don't you people read??? Don't you do research??? Don't you have any clue? Now I know why I'm sick for a couple days while everyone else is trashed for a week.

the one thing i always keep on hand is kleenex with vicks vapor rub ! man i absoluty love those ! when i had bronchitis - they helped :)

good list... I will have to make sure that I get some of these things that we don't commonly have in our house.... I like a little ginger ale when I'm sick too...

Isn't the goal to lower your body temperature? Not wrap yourself up and make keep it high? It even says (http://children.webmd.com/tc/fever-age-4-and-older-home-treatment) not to bundle up. Keep the covers light.

If you are coughing a lot, put Vicks vapo-rub on your feet then cover with socks or slippers. This helps me. Be careful with Vicks and Vaseline (if your nose is sore), Try not to get it in your nose or you will inhale petroleum. Not good for the little kids. This is a great list. I will stockup this weekend on tissues, soup, juice and tylenol. The flu has hit the Cleveland, Ohio area pretty bad. Several schools are now closed. It really is just a matter of time before our family gets it.

Good info... why do people adv. free on here? Tacky.

This what I do for upset stomach or vomiting: saltine cackers and sprite, works almost everytime

I enjoyed reading this tips.

Make sure that you know what your insurance covers and how to use your flexible spending account to purchase many over the counter items.
http://www.ehow.com/how_4542688_save-money-medical-expenses.html#

I was in the hospital a few months ago and my fever spiked to 106 but I was freezing. The doctor actually took the extra blankets out of my room so I wouldn't be tempted to use them and told me I could only have a sheet to cover up with until my temp went down. They then put ice packs under my arm pits and on the back of my neck. I don't know if that is only because it was dangerously high but it seems like bundling up wouldn't help a temperture.

the last thing you need to do is pile on the blankets when your fever spikes - wrong information girls!

thanks for this informative list.......it strikes me that this list is entirely about reacting after a cold or flu has already stricken a loved one. might I suggest a 3-item PREVENT THE COLD AND FLU list that includes: 1)use disinfecting wipes daily....disinfecting wipes kill H1N1 and germs that cause colds ON CONTACT; 2)wash hands with soap VERY OFTEN 3) take airborne or zicam at the first sign of cold symptoms

You never want to bundle yourself up if you have a fever.Take a warm not hot bath to cool your body temperature down(rubbing alcohol can make the fever worse because it doesn't cool you off it actually keeps your temp.hot).Drink plenty of fluids too.If you have a high fever and it's not going down you are at risk of getting a seizure.Especially the kiddies.When in doubt go see your doctor.

I've actually heard the opposite. The way the Native Americans use to reduce fever was to drink many fluids and wrap themselves up as much as they could (so they could sweat the fever out). However, this can be false, I remember my mom use to wrap me in one blanket and she used to tell me not to wrap up. I think it all depends, however, if you're fever keeps rising, it's always a good idea to take meds or go see a doc.

This is such a good list, I keep my thermometer in my room and inside my main drawers, you need know when you to check your temperature or someone in your house. Honey is something I always have because I tend to drink a lot of tea! Overall this list is really good. I agree with the blankets as well, I am planning on getting a Snuggie soon, because the comforter/sheets don't cut it sometimes (even without a fever, sometimes there are really cold nights!). Another good one is the Gatorade. I've also heard that Mountain Dew and Seven Up help when you're sick with the flu/stomach flu. I don't know if it';s true but since I was a kid my mom made me drink those all the time if I was ill.