Helpful tips for prevention
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- Wash your hands: the most important way to prevent a common cold is to wash your hands frequently with soap and running water (preferably warm).1
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- Use hand sanitizer: you may not always be somewhere where washing your hands is convenient, and in these situations alcohol-based hand sanitizer is a good alternative.2
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- Keep your environment clean: surfaces in our environment can be contaminated with viruses from people suffering colds, so keeping your environment clean can help to reduce your exposure.1
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- Avoid contact with people who are suffering from cold symptoms: cold viruses spread from person to person, so avoiding contact with those who are suffering can help. For example, don’t shake hands with them.2
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- Toss the tissues: tissues are virus multipliers, therefore it is highly recommended to use tissues only once and to bin them straight away.1
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- Make time for rest: it is important that you ensure you have enough time to recover and sleep.2
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- Maintain a healthy lifestyle: avoid excess alcohol, avoid smoking and ensure you have a healthy diet with fresh vegetables on a daily basis.2
References
1 Colds and flu prevention, Health Direct, April 2020 URL: https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/colds-and-flu-prevention (accessed 6 May 2021)
2 Stay Healthy: 6 Tips for Avoiding Cold and Flu, WebMD, June 2018 URL: https://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/features/avoid-cold-flu#1 (accessed 6 May 2021)
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