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Cold Prevention: 10 Tips for Stopping the Spread of Colds
Though there is no cure for the common cold, there are actions that
can be taken to reduce the spread of colds. Here are 10 tips that may
help prevent the spread of colds in your home.
- Wash Hands
Washing hands literally rinses germs away. Be sure to use
soap and warm running water to best wash germs off the hands. Teach
children to say their ABC's while washing so they keep their hands under
the faucet long enough.
- Don't Share Cups
Using paper cups can be helpful to avoid spreading
of germs. Having a dispenser of small cups in key areas (e.g., kitchen,
bathroom) can help children to make it a habit.
- Use Paper Tissue
It is best to blow the nose on paper tissue and
throw it away. It is important to keep the nose gently blown to rid the
body of mucous; however, throwing the tissue away immediately is also
important because it is a source of cold virus that can be spread by
leaving it on a counter, desk, couch, chair, etc.
- Don't touch eyes, nose or mouth
If exposed to someone with a cold,
don't touch your eyes, nose or mouth, which is where germs can be passed.
Try to help everyone in your household understand how germs can be spread
in this way. Wash your hands frequently.
- Use disposable towels
In the kitchen and other areas, it is best to
use paper or other disposable towels instead of cloth towels. Both
bacteria and viruses can live on cloth towels for hours.
- Keep toys clean
Toys often carry germs. Regularly wash children's
toys in warm, soapy water to kill bacteria and viruses.
- Sneeze away
That is, sneeze away from others and into a tissue that
can be thrown away. If you have to cover your mouth with your hands,
be sure to wash your hands afterwards.
- Ventilate
Open windows when the weather permits because germs may
remain stagnant in air. Also, keep the air moist to avoid nose irritation
(a humidifier can be used).
- Wipe up germs
Germs may rest on surfaces (up to three hours) that are
touched a lot, such as door knobs, handrails, light switches, telephones,
remote controls, and counter tops. Use a disinfectant as often as
possible to wipe them clean.
- Don't smoke or allow smoking
Smoking can irritate the nose and lungs
and drastically increase children's susceptibility to colds. It's best to
make your environment a smoke-free one (New York Hospital - Cornell
University, Department of Pediatrics, 1996).
Adapted from Rice, C.A., & Pollard, J.M. (2001). Colds, Flu, and Other
Respiratory Infections. Health Hints, 5(9).
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