During this long Covid adventure, we’re finally coming to a consensus on one thing: The virus very rarely spreads through surface contact. But do you know what does thrive on surfaces—especially hard surfaces—for hours? Cold and flu viruses. Experts aren’t sure how our Covid habits will impact this year’s cold and flu season. But I’m sure that I don’t want a cold or the flu or Covid. So I looked back through the Xybix blog archives for tips on staying healthy at this time of year.

• Daily Habits. For tried-and-true ways to avoid germs, I turned to 10 Tips to Prevent the Spread of Flu and Coronavirus at Work. I’m stocking up on tissues and hand sanitizers and recommitting to keeping common areas clean.
• Disinfecting Wipes. To clean my Xybix workstation, I needed a refresher on the best disinfecting wipes, which I found here with direct links to products: A Review of Disinfecting Wipes for 911 Dispatch Workstations and Consoles.
• Keyboard Cleaning. Although I don’t share a keyboard, I know many of you do. And mine isn’t exactly pristine. To keep those keys clean, I checked out 5 Helpful Tips to a Clean Keyboard and Mouse in the Comm Center.

While arming myself with all this info, I stumbled upon a great reminder that there is no magic wand for preventing colds, flus and Covid. One of the Xybix owners researched ultraviolet light (UVC) sanitizing wands and offers some sound advice here: Know These 3 Things Before You Touch That Sanitizing Wand.

Here’s to a healthy fall and winter for all of us!