Be Prepared- Flu may strike you or a loved one

With six more weeks of winter to go, we all must take every precaution to keep ourselves and our families well since the flu shows no signs of slowing down. This strain is nothing to trifle with as reports of hospitalizations and sadly, even deaths are on the evening news day after day. 

I’ve already succumbed to this nasty virus around Christmas time so I can attest to this virus’ strength. I was lucky I didn’t have to be hospitalized, so I was only too happy to partner with Mucinex and help spread the word about their maximum strength products. Stocking up on these products now will help you be prepared in case flu strikes you or a loved one. 

My thanks to today's' post sponsor, Mucinex. I received complimentary products shown in this post to thank me for my time and all opinions expressed are my own. 

Be Prepared in case Flu strikes you or a loved one:

I’m not going to sugar coat it. Having the flu is terrible any time, but this year’s strain packs a punch I simply have not felt in years. I was sick for weeks because I could not shake my bone-jarring cough. I was taking OTC flu and cough medicine with an expectorant, but my cough and associated aches seemed to laugh at it. Here are some helpful tips from my experience that may help you.

Make a Care Tray for your sick loved one:

When you are sick and in bed all day, you are pretty miserable. My family did all they could to keep me comfortable, but medicine is only part of that. By making up a care tray or basket, you are giving much needed TLC. Your sick loved one doesn't want you to linger and risk getting sick yourself so your thoughtful care tray will help fill the hours while coaxing them to take care of themselves if possible. 

 Things to put on your care tray or in a basket:

• Water
• Cough drops or throat soothers
• Mucinex 12 hour
• Tissues
• Magazines or word search puzzles
• Pen and paper to write down thoughts and ideas
• A bandana or face mask to help cover coughs around loved ones

You do a lot of thinking, sleeping and tossing blankets off and on when you have the flu, but a cough is the worst!  I wish I would have had Mucinex Maximum Strength 12 hour on hand! There are two types I’d like to share with you today. 

Maximum Strength Mucinex:

I’m sure you’ve seen the Mucinex commercials where mucus is the master of mayhem in your life.  While the commercials are funny, chest congestion is not. That’s why Mucinex, the number one doctor recommended OTC brand in America now offers a maximum strength expectorant bi-layer tablets that start to release fast and last for 12 hours. 

Key Benefits:

• Helps thin and loosen bothersome mucus
• Makes coughs more productive
• Relieves chest congestion
• Lasts for 12 hours
• Unique bi-layer tablet for immediate and extended release
• For adults and children 12 years old and over

Maximum Strength Mucinex DM:

Mucinex knows all about coughs. One day yours may be dry, the next day it’s a wet cough. Somedays, it’s both. That’s when you need the power of this bi-layer tablet. It goes to work immediately and keeps working for 12 hours. 

Key Benefits:

• Helps thin and loosen mucus
• Temporarily relieves a cough due to minor throat and bronchial irritation that may occur with the common cold or inhaled irritants
• Temporarily relieves intensity of coughing
• Lasts for 12 hours
• For adults and children 12 years old and over

Know your Areas Flu Risk:

Mucinex partnered with WebMD to share a very helpful (and sobering) interactive Cold and Flu map.  It will help you better understand your state and communities risk of getting sick. Here's how each state is stacking up. To get a local risk assessment, just type in your zip code in the upper left box and you’ll get a regional and community overview. 

My Local Area under Moderate Risk:

My map shows that while we are now considered in the “moderate” range for contracting a cold or the flu, our symptoms such as a sore throat, fever and cough remain high. It’s a cough that concerns me because you can walk through the remains of someone’s cough and not even know it! 

Be Prepared:

No amount of hand washing and fist bumping is going to protect you from a rogue cougher in public, so be safe, stay in when you are feeling sick- especially if you have a cough! And ask a loved one or friend to pick up some of these Mucinex products for you. They are available at Walgreens, CVS, Rite Aid, Walmart, Target, BJ’s Sam’s Club, Costco and many more retailers. You can find your closest retailer by using their store locator here. Please discuss any OTC products with your doctor before taking. 

Let's hope nobody else becomes gravely ill before this flu season ends! 

Please share in comments: Do you use Mucinex products? Which one of these products would you most like to have?