How to avoid catching or spreading a cold

How do know when a cold is contagious, and how do you keep a cold from spreading?

• You can catch a cold from just breathing the air that the infected person is breathing.

• Germs can be passed from almost anywhere including your hands, clothes, cheeks and lips.

• Germs are definitely present on airplanes due to the closed space and recirculation of air. Irrigate once you get off of the plane to flush out any germs you may have breathed in.

• Being in good shape by being rested, staying hydrated and eating right will also help your nose drain and clear any infections before they get into your blood stream.

• The more often you are around people with different colds (e.g. children) the more likely your immune system will be built up to defend against colds.

• If one of your children is sick you want to try to keep him/her isolated when possible to prevent the other kids from catching the cold.

• If you have two children that sleep in the same room together and one is sick then you may want to get an air purifier or have them irrigate their noses with saline spray.

• If your child is sick you do more good by giving them some TLC and kisses then not doing it because you are worried about getting sick.

• Viruses are relatively short lived on things like doorknobs or bed spreads in a hotel so there is not much to worry about there.

• There are no studies showing that after 24 hours of being on an antibiotic that you are no longer contagious.

• Generally, when you start to feel better and well enough to get out of bed that is when it is alright to go out and into crowds again.