In the perception of everyday life, many people feel that the family is a safe haven from outside diseases and that “the family environment does not require special sterilization measures to prevent infection”. This perception is so wrong that the family environment is also threatened by pathogens that require adequate attention and appropriate sterilization measures.
First of all, the family is not an entirely sterile space. Every day we come home from outside and carry all sorts of bacteria. For example, when travelling in public transport, the hands may be contaminated with pathogens such as influenza viruses, coliform; exposure to hand-lifts, elevator buttons, etc. in public places can also bind the bacteria to clothing and skin. Once they are brought into the home, they can spread in the home environment. If there are elderly people, children or people with low immunity, they are more vulnerable to infection, causing diseases such as cold and diarrhoea.
Some of the household ‘ s daily goods and areas are also hotbeds for disease. Like kitchen dishes, where raw meat and vegetables are cut, bacterial and parasitic eggs are easily left behind. If they are not cleaned and disinfected in a timely manner, these bacteria can cause cross-contaminated other foods, leading to health problems such as food poisoning. The bathroom is more a place where dirt is hidden, where bacteria such as coli and golden grapes are easily bred, such as toilets, bathtubs, handbaskets, etc., and in a damp environment where fungus can be bred, with long-term exposure that can cause skin infections, respiratory diseases, etc.
Patients are also a source of family bacteria. Even when the pets appear healthy, they may carry parasites such as fleas and aphids, as well as some animals, such as bowworms. These bacteria can be transmitted to family members, especially pregnant women, through pet excrement, hair, etc., and may affect the development of the foetus if infected with bowworms.
During the epidemic, the importance of family disinfection has increased. For example, during the high flu season, viruses can survive for hours or even days on the surface of family objects. If disinfection is not carried out, family members can easily transmit to one another. During the new coronary epidemic, there have also been a number of cases of concentrated family infections, amply illustrating the serious consequences of inadequate family sterilization measures.
How, then, should families disinfect? For kitchen dishes, they can be purified on a regular basis and boiled with open water for 10 – 15 minutes or sprayed with specialized kitchen disinfectants. The utensils can be boiled to disinfect, completely immersed in water and boiled for 15 – 30 minutes. Sterilisation in the bathroom can be done with chlorine-containing disinfectants such as 84 disinfectants, which, after diluting in accordance with the instructions, wipe the toilets, baths, handbaths, etc., and when disinfected, take care of the ventilation and air conditioning to avoid human harm from chlorine residues. For areas such as living rooms, bedrooms, etc., frequent window ventilation can be maintained, air flow maintained and the accumulation of pathogens reduced. The ground may be towed by mops to extract a proper amount of disinfectant solution. For fabrics such as clothing, sheets and so forth, the washing machine can be used for regular high-temperature cleaning, and clothing disinfectants can be used for impregnating.
At the same time, care must be taken to be safe during the family sterilization process. Sterilizers should be kept safe to avoid contact with children and pets. Sterilizers are to be diluted and operated in accordance with the requirements of the instructions to avoid harm to humans and the environment due to high concentrations. After disinfection, hands are washed in a timely manner to avoid skin irritation from disinfectant residues.
In sum, the family environment is not far from the risk of infection, and special sterilization measures are essential to prevent it. We want to move away from the misconception that “the family environment does not require special disinfection” and to create a healthy and safe family environment for the family through scientifically sound disinfection and to protect every member of the family from the disease.
