Combating family coughs and colds
Discover the key facts you need to know about cold and flu: the symptoms they cause, how they are different, and — most importantly — how you can help to protect yourself, your family, and those around you from spreading these germs.
By understanding germs and how they are spread, you can help protect yourself and those around you from cold and flu. Cold and flu viruses are spread easily from person to person in a variety of ways. If someone has a cold or flu, everytime they sneeze, cough or speak, tiny droplets containing the visuses are launched into the air. If you breath these droplets in, you may become infected.
Cold & flu viruses can also pass from the infected persons nose onto their hands and surfaces, such as used tissues, doorhandles and telephones, either by touching, sneezing or coughing straight onto them. If you touch the person's hands or the things they have contaminated, and then touch your nose or eyes, you could become unwell too.
Controlling the spread of colds and flu
Cold & flu viruses can spread easily, so you need to take care to help stop you and your family from becoming unwell. Colds & flu can be serious for some people. They can be particularily hazardous for at-risk groups, such as young children, and the elderly.
The good news is there are simple steps you can take to help protect yourself and your family from colds and flu to stop the germs spreading.
- Wash your hands with soap and water
- Use a hand sanitiser to kill the germs on your hands when soap and water are not available
- Clean and disinfect surfaces regularly, especially surfaces that people often touch with their hands (eg: taps, handles, kitchen work surfaces)
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing
- Put your used tissues in the bin and wash your hands afterwards. Make sure that those at most risk form flu discuss with their GP
Cold and flu prevention
Good hygiene can help stop cold and flu viruses spreading around your home and making you and your family unwell:
- Wash your hands with soap and water
- If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser to help kill the germs on your hands.
- Clean and disinfect surfaces regularly, especially the surfaces that people often touch with their hands, eg: door handles, taps and bench tops
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing
Information in this article supplied by Dettol.
