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Every year, “Flu Season” coming around is as expected as flowers blooming in the Spring, or leaves falling in Autumn. We think of it as a guaranteed, natural, phenomenon. But this year’s reported number of flu cases has experts thinking: What if it doesn’t have to be that way? In 2019, the CDC reported more than 65,000 cases of influenza in the US from September 29th to December 28th (the first half of flu season). During the same period in 2020, the agency reported just 1,016 cases. This drop occurred even despite a sixfold increase in testing this year (since...

We all know that smell. “The funk”, some call it. The odor of unwashed athletic gear is truly unforgettable. It lingers in helmets, and the foam of helmets and goggles holds it deep in their pores. Those of you pulling your ski or snowboard gear out of the basement for your winter ski trip may know it well. The “funk” doesn’t just consist of the odor it emits. Bacteria lingers on helmet surfaces, a disconcerting thought for people who rent their gear, especially in the times of COVID. These bacteria can also carry unwanted skin diseases or cause “helmet acne”....

Offices are always changing styles. Remember cubicles? Or who’s had an “open concept” office? What’s hot and what’s not in the office is constantly changing, and in 2020, the concept of going to the office entirely quickly went into the “not” category. But 2021 has allowed us to see a distant light at the end of the tunnel, and experts are imagining what a return to the office might look like. Their first prediction: many people will go back, at least to some extent. So if and when you do, what type of workplace will you step into? What can...

“Out with the old, in with the new” is commonly heard around the New Year, but is that the case in 2021? We are already a few days into the new year, and it’s clear that some things from 2020 will be rolling over into 2021. To name a few, mask wearing, social distancing and the sanitization practices will continue.  Last year we were blinded by the virus, and most of us started paying attention to our disinfecting practices for the first time. Which caused inventory shortages for many products on retailer’s shelves. As a result, shoppers began to buy...

Do the health benefits outweigh heating bills? We want to know because when it comes to fighting viruses, we believe fresh air beats stale and dry recirculated air in your home, at school, at work, in your car or on the bus. It also banishes odors. In addition, a growing body of research suggests that indoor air quality and thermal comfort are leading factors in employee productivity. According to a study conducted by the University of Tulsa found that proper ventilation was key to improving academic performance. Try making it part of your daily ritual to breathe fresh air.  To...