Safety Talk on the Common Cold

Arming yourself with information about the common cold can help prevent you and your loved ones from getting sick. Additionally, it is important to know the symptoms for the common cold and how to alleviate them.

Time Frame

• People tend to catch colds during the winter months, with surges in early fall around the start of the new school year as well as when there are significant weather changes in your area. However, it is important to know that colds can occur at any time during the year.

Symptoms

• The symptoms of the common cold include coughing, sneezing, general body aches, headache, sore throat, runny nose, and itchy eyes. It is important to differentiate a cold from the flu (short for influenza). Flu symptoms are similar to cold symptoms, with the addition of fever, gastrointestinal issues (vomiting and/or diarrhea) and tiredness.

Prevention

• There are a few important things you can do to prevent the common cold. Wash your hands often, and keep them away from your nose, eyes and mouth as much as possible. If you are sick, stay at home; and if people around you are sick, avoid them if at all possible.

Misconceptions

• There is no scientific basis for the saying "feed a cold, starve a fever." Also, a cold is not caused by exposure to cold or inclement weather. The common cold is caused by cold virus only.

Treatment

• A cold should not be treated with antibiotics. There is no cure for the common cold. Symptoms can be addressed to lessen the intensity of a cold, but the best therapy is to rest, drink plenty of fluids and use a humidifier while sleeping.