How Fresh Air Fights Cold & Flu

20/12/2018

You might think that going outside in the cold makes you more likely to ‘catch a cold’. But in fact, colds and the flu spread much more easily inside. Let us explain …

How are colds and flu spread?

Both flu and the common cold are caused by viruses, which are spread through exposure to respiratory secretions (i.e. an infected person’s sneezes or coughs). The virus can be spread through the air, personal contact (such as a handshake), or by touching contaminated objects.

How long do cold viruses remain infectious?

Virus

Hard Surfaces (e.g. desk, door handle)

Hands

Indoor Air

Colds

Up to 24 Hours

More than an Hour

Up to 45 Minutes

Flu

Up to 24 hours

Up to 10 Minutes

Several hours

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) (cold-like virus that can cause serious illness in children)

Up to 6 hours

Up to 30 Minutes

Several hours

Parainfluenza (causes croup)

Up to 10 hours

Up to 10 Minutes

Transmission is unlikely to take place

As you can see, cold and flu viruses can hang around indoors for up to 24 hours – and people can shed huge numbers of cold / flu viruses into the air which can in turn settle onto surfaces:

Coughing

3,000+

Sneezing

3,000+

Talking / Singing

1,000+

Vomiting

1,000+

Shed by Diarrhea into the air

20,000+

Nature’s outdoors remedy - Hydroxyls

However, outside, you’re much less likely to catch these viruses. That’s because Hydroxyl Radicals, which occur naturally and abundantly in the air outside, kill all human pathogens on contact, including cold and flu viruses.

Hydroxyl Radicals are commonly known as ‘Nature’s Detergent’, and we think they are pretty amazing!

Learn more about hydroxyls >

0 Comments