HEALTHY PEOPLE HEALTHY LIVES HEALTHY COMMUNITIES
Doctors recommend that covering your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough and sneeze, disposing of the tissue as soon as possible and cleaning your hands as soon as you can are the most important actions people can take to stop the spread of disease.
This can be anything from the common cold to more serious diseases like flu.
The messages of CATCH IT, BIN IT, KILL IT are simple:
• CATCH IT - germs spread easily. Always carry tissues and use them to catch your cough or sneeze
• BIN IT - germs can live for several hours on tissues. Dispose of them as soon as possible
• KILL IT - hands can transfer germs to any surface you touch. Clean your hands as soon as you can.
Research has revealed that people don't understand what a huge difference using and disposing of tissues correctly and washing hands can make in helping prevent the spread of the common cold and more serious flu virus.
Most adults suffer two to five colds a year, the under fives have an average of four to eight and around one in seven people catch flu in a year.
The NHS Choices website has a video, highlighting the importance of good hygiene when you sneeze. Watch the video here.