Folks, it’s that time of year again. You know, when that unwanted, unapologetic, pesky little visitor infiltrates our communities for the next 6 months or so. Its name?
Influenza. Also known as the crappiest feeling of your life.
According to Health Canada, in a typical year, up to an estimated 25 per cent – or about 8.6 million Canadians – come down with the seasonal flu. I’ve been lucky to avoid the dreaded virus in winters past; but then, I don’t get out much, so my protective little bubble has served me well. However, for those who brave the elements (and germs) head on, Shoppers Drug Mart would like to offer one of my readers a chance to win a Cold and Flu Defense Kit to help prevent the flu and manage cold symptoms when they do occur.
Valued at over $150, the Shoppers Drug Mart Cold and Flu Defense Kit contains a $50 gift card to use at your local Shoppers Drug Mart, plus essential items you should have on hand including Life Brand hand sanitizer, Vapo Rub, a digital thermometer, sugar-free cough drops, facial tissue, Vitamins D and C, a cool mist humidifier and Simply Food Chicken Noodle Soup.
(FYI: You can now get your annual flu shot by walking-in to SDM or booking an appointment online.)
Although I’m not here to tell you whether or not to take the flu shot (for the record, I do not), I do have one solid piece of advice I’d like everyone to follow: If you’re sick, for the love of God, please stay home. Seriously. NOBODY wants your germs, and no job/ class/ shopping trip/ get together is so important that you need to infect everyone within a 3-metre radius of your phlegmy curse. If more people took the time to isolate themselves and simply get better, we wouldn’t have an epidemic on our hands.
Ah well. One can dream. In the meantime, there’s the Cold and Flue Defense Kit. To enter, simply fill the form below with your qualifying entries. Good luck – and stay healthy!
Must Haves!
We prepare by taking extra vitamins and eating healthy….oh ya, and LOTS of hand sanitizer.
I need this in my house now!
I don’t do much to prepare – just hope for the best!
extra vit c, and huge bottle of echinacea,,
With being a new mom, I surely hope to not get sick this year! This would be a great help lol
Hand sanitizer, ensureing people don’t cough and sneeze into their hands, vitamins and a flu shot
Avoid people! haha
I don’t do much other than washing my hands. I’m lucky – I don’t get sick often. I do, however, love how well Cold-FX and oil of oregano work if I AM getting sick.
Definitely need this! With a newborn on the way and a day home.
I certainly could use this kit……everyone at work is getting sick!!
We take vitamins and cold fx
I don’t really prepare besides the usually hand washing often and kleenex on hand.
drink/eat lots of Vitamin C, use hand sanitizer and wear a scarf around my neck during cold mornings
stock up on meds so I’m ready! Would love to win this :)
Hand washing, teaching the kids to cough into their arms not their hands and flu shots.
I absolutely agree but there are unfortunately many ppl in the world who cannot afford to isolate themselves when they have the sniffles. But one can dream :)
I wish all a healthy and sniffleless fall and winter!
I start stocking up on tissues and night-time cold meds when I see them on sale in the late summer. I also have been uping our vitamin c intake
Lots of handwashing and santizer!!
I take zinc losenges whenever i feel a cold coming around and hope it doesn’t find me!
I try to get in shape as much as I can before the cold season starts and just be as hygenic as possible.
I’ve already gotten sick once this year. I can’t afford to take anymore sick days.
We practice frequent hand washing. it is the best defence against germs! Says my nurse friend, she’s rarely ever sick
Stock up on tissue and Cold-Fx
When I get sick with the cold and flu, I stay home and rest. I just kind of avoid people.
It will not be long before we all catch something
I take Omega-3 daily plus a multi vitamins. I always have a supply of tissues on hand. Comfort food is chicken soup.
kleenex, cough syrup, cough lozenges,……
Take vitamins, tissues and plenty of fresh juice
Vitamin C!
I sleep a lot
Just finished having a cold!! Only have one sick day left for the rest of the year I hope I dont catch anything else!!!!
I take a multi-vitamin daily to help boost my immune system.
My family will go out and get the flu shot done, and stock up on orange juice :)
I use hand sanitizer and try to stay away from people who are sick.
We wash our hands a lot in our house. The first thing all of us do when we come in from being out is wash our hands. My 3 year old just goes and does it on his own. We also take vitamins and try to eat healthy.
we get flu shots, try to eat good, get enough sleep but with little kids who go to school its hard to prepare. we always end up sick no matter what.
Lots of vitamin C and a stock of neo citran
We make sure we eat healthy
I wash my hands a lot ,stock upon on Neo-Citrans and I drink plenty of fluids.
Stock up on everything you need before you get a cold.
I stay away from large crowds, buy tissues and robitussin. I try to eat well and get plenty of sleep.
handwashing!
I have my cold fx my Lysol wipes my Lysol spray, washing hands constantly wiping down door handles fridge handles anything someone touches that is sick.
I ensure I am washing my hands MORE than usual & take my vitamins!
love hand sanitizer!
HAnd sanitizer!
Washing hands and cleaning constantly as i run a day home!
could definitely use this! Thanks for a great giveaway!
I use a hand sanitiser more often and take vitamin c. I also try to keep active and eat healthy. That helps a lot
Oh please we could totally use this, both my boys are sick!
Need this badly!
I buy lots of tissue and hand sanitizer
we try to eat healthy, get proper sleep and get out our hoodies and pashminas
Cleaning the commonly touched areas (i.e.: door knobs, phones). We think a lot about vitamins and hand sanitizers, but cold season is also about preventing germs from spreading. And touching places where people may place germs on is a good start.
I wash hands often and purell when i can’t. I also stock up on Neo Citran.
I try to stay warm, wash hands often, eat soups and teas and get lots of rest!
We basically do what we do all year and make sure we wash our hands all of the time!
I stock up on cold medicine, kleenex and sanitizer
Wash our hands a lot and use hand sanitizer often especially when we go out. We also get flu shots
2 glasses of Orange or Grapefruit juice a day, starting mid September til May!!
Lots of hand sanitizer.
My family gets our annual flu shots and always make sure to wash our hands often!
we do lots of hand washing and we do like to get the flu shot as I have kids with asthmas so they tend to get really sick when they get ill so we usually do that
I stock up on cold/flu pills, neo citran and hand sanitizer and make sure we always wash our hands
i stock up on vitamin c
As a pre-school teacher, it’s important to stay healthy, and even more important to teach our young minds how to stay healthy, too! Everything from PROPER hand washing, how to sneeze into your elbow, and healthy eating and sleeping are the simple steps I teach my kids to help prevent the flu!
We take our daily vitamins, wash our hands a little more than usual and use hand sanitizer when we can’t wash up.
lots of fruit and veggies, and stocking up on vitamins, and cold medicationékleenx
Lots of vitamin d, and I try to eat well, and get outside every day.
Lots of handwashing, drinking water and sneezing in to my shoulder!
Lots of tissues, vitamins etc.
I stock up on medications for the kids and tissues
I don’t think I really prepare. I take vitamins daily but more for feeling healthy. I haven’t had a flu in several years and don’t care for needles so I don’t usually have the flu shot. I guess so far I have been lucky :)
vitamin c but obviously it isn’t working
Extra vitamin C and lots of hand washing.
We take vitamins and ColdFX to prepare for cold and flu season.
I am very vigilant about washing my hands, and I like to load up on echinacea and vitamin C this time of the year! This basket looks great though – thanks for the chance to win! :)
I prepare with having vitamin C and echinacea on hand.
We wash our hands often especially when returning home!
I get a flu shot or I get everything under the sun
We do lots of hand washing, eat healthy and rest.
I try to get plenty of rest, fresh air and try to eat properly.
We make sure to get out in the fresh air every day
lots of chicken soup, rest, hand washing…..and sleep in separate rooms!
We go to the drugstore and get things like flu/cold medicine, cough syrup, vicks, Tylenol, saline for the nose. Things like that.
Cold FX and a deep clean of my house! Lysol wipes for all toys!
My husband and I don’t prepare, we just ignore it and wait and see, and we hardly ever get a cold
I stock up on tissues and vitamin C.
We keep up with tissues. We also check out thermometer every few months to make sure it’s still good as it’s digital. We keep cough syrup on hand as the girls are guaranteed to bring home ‘something’ involving a cough!
We add some extra vitamins during the cold/flu season and make sure our medicine cabinet is stocked in case a bug makes its way into the house.
We stock up on tissues and cold/flu medicine.
I don’t really prepare…unless stocking up on tissues counts!
I usually stock up on cold medications for myself, my husband and our children. I also try to make sure the house gets sanitized often and the kids wash their hands several times throughout the day.
stock up on tissues and vitamin C
Vitamin C and lots of hand washing
We just wadh our hands all the time
no prep really, just maintain good handwashing
I make sure I have plenty of Vitamin C and tissues available. I also make a beeline away from people that are coughing or sneezing in a store (if I’m not in the checkout line, then it is kind of hard to make a getaway), and I make sure to keep my gloves on (I use those cheapie stretchy gloves in a store) when using the shopping cart. I have noticed that some stores now have wipes available where you pick up your shopping carts – I think that is a fantastic idea too.
we are always stocked up on orange juice,and take multivitamins :)
We take Vitamin C and other vitamins each day and wash our hands more frequently and avoid to have our hands contact our eyes and noses before we wash our hands
I take my vitamins and try and avoid those who are sick
Get lots of rest and eat healthy.
I really don’t do much differently!
I take extra Vitamin D and wash my hands more often during fall and winter. This is a very generous prize and Shoppers Life brand is always excellent!
I make sure I am stocked up on Tylenol Cold/Flu, painkillers and cough syrup. There is nothing worse than getting sick and not having the meds you need!
Just having anything on hand that will help – Tylenol, cough syrup, etc.!
I go extra miles to protect us all, and if that doesn’t help, there is a “first aid” with homeopathic and traditional remedies…
We start taking vitamin D again (stop in the summer when we get plenty of sun)
I wash my hands a lot lol
I keep lots of chicken noodle soup cans in stock!!!!
Lots of handwashing, load up on tissues and Tylenol and get flu shots.
I take extra vitamins and wash my hands often
Handwashing and eating healthily.
lots of hand sanitizer and wipes
Tis the season – have to prepare monthly – my son is asthmatic. Can never be caught with our *defenses* down. The humidifier would be ideal – great giveaway and package.
I use a lot of hand sanitizer!
I am stock piling Echinacea, Tylenol Cold & Flu and lots of boxes of Kleenex.
Use lots of hand sanitizer, vitamins and washing my hands consistently
I ensure that I get the current Flu Shot early.
I stock up on flu and cold meds.
I get lots of kleenex
Vitamins and wash hands more then ever!
I try to get more sleep to help my immune system.
Eating healthy and staying hydrated
I prepare by getting the flu shot and taking a ton of vitamins.
we prepare by stocking up on Chicken soup and vitamin C.
I just make sure to wash my hands regularly, especially when someone sick has entered my office. Exercising regularly helps me fight any illness off as well!
Make sure I have cold/flu meds available and I use lots of hand sanitizer to avoid catching the flu in public places.
We always have Vitamin C, Oil of Oregano, and Echinacea, etc. on hand.
Cheers.
i always keep meds on hand as my daughter gets ill alot
I prepare for CnF season by keeping orange juice around
Incredible amounts of handwashing, desanitizing, sanitizing and when all else fails vitamin C. I try and keep the cold and flu out of my house, sometimes it doesn’t heed my warning :)
Definitely need this! Everyone I know is sick!
I think this year I’ll prepare by getting the flu shot, I haven’t been getting it the past few years and I keep getting sick at the same time as my daughter and it’s horrible when we’re both sick at the same time.
We increase our Vitamin C intake and wash our hands more frequently.
Lots of vitamin C and kleenex, and also getting the winter blankets washed and ready-to-go
Stock up on vitamin C and get lots of rest.
I try to stay on top of everyone taking their vitamins, flu shots, make sure any areas that cause a draft in the house are sealed!
Daily vitamins and my kids both carry hand sanitizer clipped to their backpacks and a packet of kleenex plus frequent hand-washing.
Hand sanitizer is my Bestfriend!
I wear gloves/mitts and try to wash my hands whenever I can.
Cold FX and flu shot
wash hands, vitamins
Lots of hand sanitizer and cold fx
Constantly tell.kids to wash their hands!!
lots of Kleenex and hand sanitizer
I make sure to get my intake of vitamin C , wash my hands frequently and I get a flu shot as a preventative measure.
Fun smelling hand soap for the kids and kleenex boxes in every room
Lots of hand washing and having echinacea on hand.
Lots of great tools to get through this cold and flu season:)
I wash my hands a lot, as I suffer from Lupis I am more prone to infection.
I take a lot of vitamins and I rest a lot. I also need to eat VERY healthy.
With my job (nursing) I wash my hands religiously already. During flu season I do get my flu shot (job requirement) and carry sanitizer with me everywhere.
Lotsa Vitamin C!
Hand sanitizers, vitamins, stock up on Kleenex and I get a flu shot every year.
I keep a few kleenex in my pocket & pump the vitamins everyday!
We stock up on vitamin C and add more sugar-free fruit juices to our meals.
Washing my hands…a lot. And making sure I sleep enough per night!
Sanitize hands frequently and before touching food. Drink lots of water, get well rested and ensure my vitamins are taken
i eat a lot of agrums, garlic and ginger
take loads of vitamin c!
Healthy Eating, Proper rest and Lots of Hand Washing
lots of soap, drugs, and stay away from everyone whose sick
I am never prepared. Well, we always have cough syrup on hand, but I won’t touch the stuff! I’ll just have soup and tea and naps and baths…and basically suffer it out.
I stock up on tissues, cold medicine, vitamin c drops and Cold FX
throat lozenges, lysol spray and tissues
We ban sick people from our house and reschedule playdates
I prepare by making sure we have enough supplies should we catch a cold or flu. Facial tissue, cough drops, etc..
We get the flu shot each year as well.
‘flu shot. thanks
I don’t prepare. But if I hear that someone I know is sick- I avoid them like the plague! HA!
Not at all! I use what leftovers I have on hand and tend not to leave the house unless necessary. I have been through one something or other already and was totally wishing I was fully stocked with everything. I tried a bit of everything on hand to no avail!
I stock up on lysol and hand sanitizer
We don’t do much – make sure we have the basics on hand including honey, tea and chicken soup.
get the annual flu-short, sometimes take echinecea & flu-shield vitamins
I’m a lemon juice addict! I drink it year round and if I start to feel sick, I make hot lemon & honey.
I am entering your giveaway.
It would be great to win the cold and flu prizepack.
In response to your question on how I prepare for cold and flu season,
I wash my hands a lot and dress warm.
i carry hand sanitizer and try to never touch my face – tell the kids the same!
I eat more Vitamin C
hand washing and flu shots
Having prepared and enjoyed your Banana Split Cheesecake, I am particularly partial to that photo!
Sorry about that last post! My illness-addled brain typed it in the wrong box! That’s why I need this prize pack!
Wash hands a lot and have my supply of Neo-Citran, Advil Cold & Sinus, and Airborne ready!
Just got the flu shot this week!
hand washing
eat healthy, warm soups, warm drinks, keep active, & stock up on facial tissues.
We get our flu shots.
Hi, we prepare for cold and flu season by taking vitamin D daily, eating healthy, getting enough sleep, taking Echinacee if symptoms start to appear and getting the flu shot. Also exercising proper hygiene is also very important. Thanks for sponsoring this timely giveaway and or the opportunity to participate
We have vitamins at hand!
Vitamins lots of fruit and sleep
I am taking vitamin C and D and eating really well.