National Handwashing Awareness Week is December 3-9

Help your Family Reduce the Chances of catching

The Common Cold or Flu!

Common Cold and Flu Viral infections are common during the winter months when people are stuck inside breathing the same air.

 

1. Wash Your Hands Frequently! Especially after going out- touching door knobs, shopping carts, handling money, shaking hands, etc. Don’t touch your child’s nose, mouth, or eyes while out in a public place without first washing your hands or using a hand sanitizer.

Viruses can live on surfaces for hours. If someone is sick and in close contact with you or your family, wipe down hand rails, keyboards, computer equipment, telephones, toys, doorknobs with sanitizing spray or cleansers.

 

2. Keep Your Fingers Away From Your Face! One of the most efficient ways to transfer cold viruses is from the hands to the nose, mouth, or eyes. From the eyes, the viruses migrate down the tear ducts into the nose. Once in the nose or mouth, they go to the back of the throat and attach to the adenoid cells.

 

3. Keep your distance. Cold and flu viruses are most easily spread during the first 3 days of infection, even before symptoms start.  If possible, avoid close contact with people in crowded places.

 

4. Carry an alcohol based hand sanitizer in your purse/diaper bag and keep an extra bottle at your desk. Studies suggest they aid in removing both bacteria and viruses especially when used after soap and water to remove surface dirt.

 

5. If you have to be in contact with a sick person, try to keep a 3 foot distance, don’t shake hands and if you touch something that the sick person handled, wash your hands or use an alcohol based sanitizer.

 

6. If someone in the house smokes, encourage them to stop! Smoking damages cilia in the lungs and nose. These structures help rid the body of germs and improve breathing. Studies have found smokers and their contacts are more likely to catch colds and their colds last longer and are more likely to lead to secondary infections.

 

7. Cover your mouth and nose with your elbow/sleeve if you cough or sneeze. If your child is sick – keep them home from school/daycare to limit the spread of viruses. And if you feel sick- stay home from work!

 

Is it a Cold or the Flu? 

Symptoms	Cold	Flu
Fever	Rare	Usual; high (100˚F-102˚F sometimes higher) lasts 3-4 days
Headache	Rare	Common
General Aches and Pains	Slight	Usual, often severe
Fatigue, Weakness	Sometimes	Usual, can last up to 2-3 weeks
Extreme Exhaustion	Never	Usual, at the beginning
Stuffy Nose	Common	Sometimes
Sneezing	Usual	Sometimes
Sore Throat	Common	Sometimes
Chest Discomfort, Cough	Mild to moderate,Hacking cough	Common, can become severe
Treatment	None	Antiviral medicines within first 48 hrs