Germ Warfare How to Combat Germs During the Season of Sickness
No one likes to get sick, so it can be uncomfortable to be around people with colds or flu-like symptoms. And we certainly don’t want to expose others to our illness if we’re sick, but most people can’t just lock themselves into their homes for days on end. Luckily, there are a few practical steps we can take to keep ourselves from getting sick. Use disinfectant. Around every home, office, school, or place where people congregate, there are countless places for germs to hide. Handles and doorknobs are prime real estate: doors, drawers, cabinets, the coffee pot, you name it. On top of these surfaces, you also have keyboards, mice, phones, and buttons on the printer and copier. The easiest way to keep these and all surfaces clean? Disinfectant wipes. During flu season (or when someone clearly has a cold), wipe down these surfaces twice a day or more. It may seem excessive at first, but the more you disinfect with vigilance, the less likely the illness will spread. Stay home. If you are sick, avoid going to work or engaging in social gatherings. While it can be hard to miss work, even a single day of rest can make a huge difference in overcoming a cold. Office managers also need to recognize the need for team members to take time off to recuperate. After all, if one person is sick and at work, germs will spread. When that happens, productivity doesn’t
just take a hit, it’s obliterated. If you have social gatherings planned and you’re under the weather, you may need to skip it — or postpone it, if possible.
Wash your hands. You’ve heard this time and time again, but it’s worth
repeating. There are still too many people who haven’t gotten into this important habit. Washing your hands with hot, soapy water takes no more than 30 seconds and can save you
a week or two of misery down the road. It’s one of the most effective ways to reduce exposure to germs and the spread of illness. Make it a ritual, and if necessary, put up notes to remind others to do the same. What else can you do? Consider setting a sanitation station (or a few) around your home or workplace. Include hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes, and tissues. Keep stations reliably stocked. Make it easy for everyone to combat germs and stay healthy during the season of sickness.
POTATO LATKES
INGREDIENTS
• 2 large russet potatoes, scrubbed • 1 large onion, peeled and cut into quarters • 2 large eggs • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp kosher salt • 1 tsp baking powder • 1/2 tsp black pepper • Safflower or vegetable oil, for frying
DIRECTIONS
1. Using either a food processor with a coarse grating disc or the coarse side of a box grater, grate potatoes and onion. (If using a food processor, halve or quarter potatoes.) Once grated, wrap in a clean dish towel or cheesecloth to wring out as much moisture as possible. 2. Transfer to a mixing bowl and mix in eggs, flour, salt, baking powder, and pepper. 3. Heat a heavy-bottomed pan containing 1/4-inch of oil over medium-high heat. Use a heaping tablespoon to drop batter into the hot pan, working in batches. Use a spatula or spoon to form them into discs. Fry about 5 minutes per side, until deeply browned. 4. Transfer to a paper towel-lined wire rack to drain, and serve alongside applesauce and sour cream.
HOLIDAYS FLURRY FROZEN PENGUIN
WREATH SNOWFLAKE
COOKIES ORNAMENTS REINDEER STOCKINGS
WINTER SLEIGH
Inspired by The New York Times
3 604-532-9625 •
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online