# When Santa Brings the Sniffles - Tips for Tampa Residents | Brooks Law Group ![Sick after Christmas](https://brookslawgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/image008-compress.jpg) Did Santa bring more than presents to your home this season? If a cold or flu made its way down the chimney (or through your front door), your holiday might have been a little less than ideal. Instead of sipping hot cocoa and enjoying your Christmas gifts, once your family and friends went home you were left with coughing, aches, and not enough tissues. With so many illnesses running their course around the [Tampa Bay area](https://brookslawgroup.com/tampa/personal-injury-lawyer/) right now, you can’t place all the blame on Santa (or your holiday visitors). No matter where you got sick, once the germs have made their way into your home, and into your body, how should you respond? Remember: - **Cleaning Doesn’t Have to Wait Until Spring! **Did that “touch of a cold” quickly turn into a full-blown flu before the tree even came down? Have your kids been coughing since Christmas Eve? Taking time to sanitize commonly used spaces in your house is important in keeping your family healthy! Wash all bed linens on hot wash if possible, and spray down mattresses, mattress toppers, drapes, and other fabric surfaces that can’t be washed with a disinfectant of your choice. Wipe down hard surfaces like bedside tables, faucets, tv remotes, curtain and blind cords/rods, light switches, doorknobs, kitchen counters, refrigerator handles, etc. Pretty much any surface that could have been touched should be sanitized. Mopping hard floors with a sanitizing cleaner is a wise decision as well. Finally, open windows for a while if you can to air out the room, and vacuum the space with a HEPA filter to take care of any remaining particles. - **Stay Home.** We get it. This is a hard one right after Christmas when you’ve already taken time off work, school, and activities. Unfortunately though, you become part of perpetuating the problem of illnesses circulating in our area when you choose to continue forward with your plans while sick. Thankfully, Tampa stores and restaurants make it easier to stay home when you don’t feel well. Many local eateries offer delivery or no contact pickup services at little or no charge, and they make it easy to eat well so your body can heal faster. Stores like Whole Foods, Target, and even Trader Joes offer ordering services, and InstaCart makes it possible to shop at a wide variety of stores without leaving home. - **Take Care of Yourself! **Your body ultimately needs rest to heal, and that means giving yourself the time and the space to get better. Pull out some favorite movies (even those Christmas ones you didn’t get around to watching!), grab a blanket, and settle in for a few days of R&R. Look to Brooks!CALL US TODAY [![Phone Icon](https://brookslawgroup.com/wp-content/themes/brooks-law-group/assets/app/img/ctas/phone-icon.png)(800) 529-3030](tel:+18005293030) The team at Brooks Law Group encourages [Tampa residents](https://brookslawgroup.com/tampa/personal-injury-lawyer/) to stay well and do your part to keep others healthy as well this cold and flu season. No one wants to end up ill thanks to the irresponsible choices of another. The same is true when it comes to accidents and injuries! If you or someone you love [was injured because another driver made a poor or reckless decision](https://brookslawgroup.com/florida/car-accident-lawyer/), our dedicated group of attorneys are ready to take on the fight for you and go after the justice you deserve and the compensation you need. Don’t walk the journey alone. We are Tampa’s top choice for professionalism, personal care, and RESULTS. Call us for your [free, no-obligation consultation](https://brookslawgroup.com/contact-us/). We hope you enjoy a happy (and healthy) start to 2023! Call or text [(800) 529-3030](tel:+18005293030) or complete a [Free Case Evaluation form](/contact-us/) In The News Blog Posts: [![Stressed woman behind the steering wheel - Stress Awareness Month](https://brookslawgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Stressed-woman-behind-the-steering-wheel-Stress-Awareness-Month-compress-300x251.jpg)](https://brookslawgroup.com/blog/stress-awareness-month-tips-for-tampa-commuters/) ### [Stress Awareness Month: Tips for Tampa Commuters](https://brookslawgroup.com/blog/stress-awareness-month-tips-for-tampa-commuters/) April has arrived, and because it's designated as Stress Awareness Month, the team at Brooks Law Group feels this is a [![New Youtube Thumbnail Art - Featured](https://brookslawgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/New-Youtube-Thumbnail-Art-Featured-300x169.jpg)](https://brookslawgroup.com/blog/special-guest-interview-dr-ali-hamtaee-from-spine-correction/) ### [Special Guest Interview: Dr. Ali Hamtaee from Spine Correction](https://brookslawgroup.com/blog/special-guest-interview-dr-ali-hamtaee-from-spine-correction/) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCXs4Sv1klE On this Wednesday's Inside Look by Brooks, Steve Brooks has asked a [![Careers at Brooks Law Group](https://brookslawgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/holidays-at-the-office-compress-300x251.jpeg)](https://brookslawgroup.com/blog/tips-for-employers-on-creating-a-festive-environment-for-their-staff/) ### [Tips for Employers on Creating a Festive Environment for Their Staff](https://brookslawgroup.com/blog/tips-for-employers-on-creating-a-festive-environment-for-their-staff/) Halloween is coming up fast! 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