Cold and flu season is upon us and no one is immune. By age two most children have had ten colds. Children average three to eight colds a year. The most common reason for missed school and work is colds.

Viruses are the cause of colds and flu. Fortunately, there are simple things you can do to prevent them. Practice good health habits which include: getting plenty of sleep, getting exercise daily, drinking plenty of fluids, eating nutritiously and washing your hands. According to The Centers For Disease Control and Prevention, hand washing is the single most important thing you can do to prevent the spread of disease.

Washing hands frequently can reduce your risk for picking up the viruses that cause colds. Wash up after using the bathroom or changing a diaper, before eating or food preparation, after sneezing, coughing or blowing your nose and handling money.

There is a right way to wash your hands. Use warm water and regular soap (antibacterial soap is not necessary). Rub and lather both sides of your hands for at least 15 seconds (sing “Happy Birthday”), rinse well and pat your hands until they are dry. To prevent chapped hands challenge your child to see how damp they can make a (dry) paper towel.

Although not a substitute, when soap and water are not available, waterless hand soaps make a good alternative.

So, stay well and happy hand washing! 

Some interesting facts:

In the late 1840’s Dr. Ignaz Semmelweis ordered hospital ward staff in Vienna to wash their hands. Mortality rate dropped to less than 1%. Despite his findings, his colleagues became very hostile to him and the new practice.

In 1910, Dr. Josephine Baker initiated a program to teach hygiene to child car providers in New York. Physicians actually sent letters of complaint because their medical practices were being negatively affected by the new practice – babies were healthier!