Washing your hands protects! Peak season for respiratory infections: Hygiene tips for the cold season | health

Respiratory infections such as colds, flu, and COVID-19 spread easily, especially in the cold season. Careful hygiene helps protect yourself and others. When we cough and sneeze, countless pathogens are sprayed through saliva and nasal secretions, which reach the mucous membranes of others’ noses, mouths or eyes through the air and can cause illness.

Pathogens can also be transmitted via hands – for example through objects shared with sick people or when shaking hands. So washing your hands well with soap is a simple and effective measure to reduce the risk of spreading pathogens and protect yourself from infection, as this can significantly reduce the number of germs on your hands.

To protect yourself from infection, in addition to washing your hands well, it is recommended to take other hygiene measures when coughing and sneezing in addition to regular ventilation:

· Wash hands regularly and well with soap and water. This is especially true when returning home, before eating, after using the toilet, after blowing your nose, and when coming into contact with sick people.

· It takes 20 to 30 seconds to wash your hands completely.

· Do not touch your mouth, nose or eyes with unwashed hands.

· When sneezing or coughing, stay away from others and hold a tissue or bend your arm in front of your mouth and nose.

· Ventilate indoor rooms regularly.

· Regularly clean frequently touched surfaces and objects.

· People who belong to a high-risk group, for example, severe illness due to coronavirus (COVID-19), influenza, or respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection, should consider wearing a mask in cases of possible infection.

· Anyone experiencing symptoms of an acute respiratory infection such as a runny nose, cough, or sore throat should stay home until their condition improves significantly. If you have close contact with others, especially people at high risk, who cannot be avoided, sick people should wear a mask.

© Bazgha