Public health is a topic that gets a lot of media attention, especially when there is an outbreak of some kind that threatens the overall health and safety of the general population and local communities. There are many types of illness outbreaks that are adequately contained immediately that never becomes public knowledge or that people are made aware of. Most times, this is effective, and sometimes it’s not so effective. When there is an illness that gets out of control and beyond containment, the public has to be made aware of it and what steps to take to avoid further problems.
For the average person who interacts on a daily basis in any public situation, there are things that they can do that will help them avoid certain illnesses and being exposed to anything that can be potentially harmful to their health. This is especially important if the person has a low immune system and is susceptible to catch just about anything that is airborne. This is also true for small babies and the elderly whose immune systems are somewhat weakened, making them liable to catch most anything as well.
- Avoid touching high traffic surfaces like doorknobs, toilet handles and seats and places where there is a lot of hand contact. This is how many germs and bacteria are transferred.
- Cover your mouth and nose in high traffic places, if possible, to reduce your exposure to germs. This includes sports events, medical facilities and even shopping malls. Although this can seem like a put-off for many people, try to be as discreet as possible without offending.
Practicing and using routines that will protect you from contracting illnesses that are common in the public can keep you safe and protected. Certain routines and habits will also help you transfer those over to any situation and implement them whenever health issues are at risk.
There is no particular time of the year when it’s the best time to get a cold. A person can catch a cold during any season of the year, even summertime, so safety precautions are good to practice all year and all seasons to avoid the unpleasant illness. There are however a couple of seasons of the year when the odds of catching a cold are significantly increased and a persons chance of getting sick are higher. Fall and winter are considered the prime target seasons for catching a cold for the majority of people, especially in crowded, public areas like the workplace, school, church and even the local grocery store.
One thing that people can do to avoid catching colds during the prime cold season is to cover up when and where appropriate. They should avoid going outside in extremely cold weather without a covering of some sort, whether it’s a coat or a jacket. There is moisture in cold weather, and when that moisture is on the body for long periods of time, it compromises the person’s immune system and makes them more susceptible to germs and colds.
Also, to avoid catching colds and staying healthy, a person should wash their hands as often as possible. Use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available and avoid touching surfaces that are frequently touched by the general population. This includes doorknobs, tables and even money. Although handling these things are sometimes unavoidable, be mindful of touching them and avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth after you’ve been exposed to those things. Frequent hand washing clears away germs and bacteria, things that are present and contribute to a person catching a cold.
Finally, drinking plenty of fluids during cold season keeps the body flushed and hydrated and the cold germs at bay. The best liquid to drink of course would be water, but any kind of liquid is good so long as it is frequent and in abundance. Orange juice, sports drinks and even coffee and tea are good liquids to drink and helps a person avoid sicknesses.
