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VOCAL HEALTH
Ahhhhhh Chooo! Don't Flu Around With
Vocal Health. Common Sense Reminders ...
January 24, 2017

By Dave Courvoisier
Voice Actor & TV News Anchor

This'll be really simple, and you've heard it all before. You just aren't doing it, 'cause ... well ... we're human ... and we forget.

1. Wash your hands!

2.  Don't touch your eyes, your nose, your mouth...heck!...anything on your face until April (unless you've washed your hands...see #1 above)  (this includes nose-picking, eye-rubbing, getting the "sleep" out of your eyes, and flossing).

3. Get a flu shot. No it won't give you the flu, it won't make you sick, and it WILL protect you (you may have a sore spot on your arm for a day).

4.  Avoid small children at all costs.      
  • if you have small children or school-age children... you're screwed (sorry, but you are). 
  • exposure to nieces, nephews, grandchildren can be hazardous to your health. See #1 above.
5. Stay out of crowds, shopping areas, restaurants, and anywhere frequented by humans (if you must ... please see #1).

6. At your workplace, ask your boss if you can distribute around the office those dispensers with an antibacterial liquid, or some antibacterial wipes. I realize this may make most bacteria immune to antibiotics by 2021, but we're talking about how to save yourself from rhinoviruses or the flu TODAY.

7. Take Airborne or Zicam or some other immune support supplement with scads of Vitamin C and Zinc from now until April ... no... May. There's no scientific proof it works, but I'm a case study in its effectiveness.

8. Wipe down all surfaces in your home with bleach ... especially after little people have visited.

9. Eat healthy food ... get lots of sleep. Just - wash your hands first.

Honorable Mention: Gargle with an antimicrobial mouthwash all the time. I prefer hydrogen peroxide.

In fact, my dentist recommends hydrogen peroxide for good oral health, because it kills all the crappy stuff in your mouth, and the human mouth is said to be the dirtiest thing on your body. If not hydrogen peroxide, then a really bad-tasting Listerine. It has to be bad-tasting (not actually, but that's what my mom told me).

OK, got it? Good. Rinse and repeat.
----------------------
ABOUT DAVE
Dave Courvoisier is an Emmy Award-winning broadcaster, writer, producer, voice actor, and the main weeknight news anchor on KLAS-TV, Channel 8, the Las Vegas CBS affiliate. He also writes Voice-Acting in Vegas, a daily blog of voice over adventures, observations and technology, and is author and publisher of the book, More Than Just A Voice: The Real Secret To VoiceOver Success.

Email: CourVO@CourVO.com
Web: http://www.courvo.com
Blog: http://www.courvo.biz
More Than Just A Voice: http://courvo.com/more-than-just-a-voice

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Comments (3)
Derek
1/26/2017 at 10:07 PM
All great advice... except #6.

Seriously, that's a really terrible thing to suggest. Using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer is WAY better for you than anything anti-microbial. Heck, the FDA banned antimicrobial soaps just this past September since they're not proven to be better than washing with plain soap and water, and they are creating superbugs that will cause us greater harm later on:
https://arstechnica.com/science/2016/09/fda-bans-antibacterial-soaps-no-scientific-evidence-theyre-safe-effective

So, please, please, PLEASE... avoid antibacterial products like the plague for your long-term health.
Ken
1/25/2017 at 7:56 PM
That was great advice. And I for one having worked in fast food, am always washing my hands. I have grown children(for the most part) so I'm not screwed except maybe at work. LOL

Thank you for the advice.
Ken
Ron
1/24/2017 at 1:02 PM
Yes...and wear surgical masks when you're sick or others are sick around you...and wash your hands (I know). The grandkids are coming in for the weekend. We are doomed...pulling out the hazmat suit and washing hands many, many times!!

Thanks Dave...trust you're doing great!!

Ron
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