Protect yourself from colds and flu

Protect yourself

Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly - not just the palms but also the backs of your hands and in between your fingers - and make sure your children do the same. Studies have shown hand washing can reduce the spread of colds within families.

Wash surfaces, door handles and telephones frequently with hot, soapy water or an antibacterial cleaner.

Avoid touching your face. The viruses enter the body via the eyes, nose and mouth.

Get anyone who's ill to use paper tissues when sneezing or coughing, and bag and bin them after use. Each sneeze or cough can project up to 100,000 infected droplets as far as 10m.

Be vigilant all the time. People are infectious for at least a day before symptoms appear, and then for three to five days after.