Like Germs

05/09/2022

Add your phone to the list of items with more germs than a toilet seat! Both cell phones and office desk phones can harbor bacteria known to cause infection. The problem is most people don't clean their phone screens and often share phones. A Journal of Applied Microbiology study warned that up to 30% of viruses could be transferred from a fingertip to a glass surface, such as that of your cell phone.

05/09/2022

A 2011 study found that gas pumps are among the dirtiest surfaces Americans touch. More than 71% of the gas pump handles tested were found to be contaminated with bacteria and viruses that could make you sick. But we have to pump gas, so to stay healthy, use sanitizing wipes on the pump handles before and after use and use alcohol-based hand sanitizer after you pump your gas. Consider using your glove compartment to actually store an extra pair of latex gloves to protect your hands.

05/09/2022

Gyms are repositories for germs. Everyone gets hot and sweaty and there are a lot of shared, touched surfaces from free weights, to gym mats, to exercise balls. Even the shower can contain the fungi that cause athlete's foot. Staph, strep, and Norovirus can spread easily in this environment. Gyms are also hotbeds for antibiotic-resistant bacteria such as MRSA, which can lead to dangerous skin infections.

05/09/2022

Like other public surfaces that are touched by many people, ATM buttons or screens can also be covered in germs. Some ATM companies are looking to develop antimicrobial touch screens that would inhibit the growth of germs. Until then, use a pen to press the buttons when possible, and once again, break out that hand sanitizer.

05/09/2022

Protect your little ones by using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer on their hands as soon as they get out of the sandbox, and wash their hands thoroughly when you get home.

05/09/2022

Other places in a hotel room that might be contaminated include lamp switches, telephones, ice buckets, unwrapped drinking glasses, hair dryers, bedspreads, coffee makers, and bathroom faucets. Use a sanitizing wipe on all surfaces when you can, and just toss the bedspread aside and don't use it for sleeping. Request an extra freshly-laundered blanket if needed.

05/09/2022

Yet another surface that is often more contaminated than toilet surfaces: elevator buttons. They are probably cleaned less frequently than bathrooms. The best choice for your health is to take the stairs (get in some exercise!). Otherwise, try to push the button with your elbow or the tip of a pen, or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer before and after pushing the button.

05/09/2022

You might want to think twice before putting your child in the seat of a shopping cart. Shopping cart handles can be covered with more bacteria than is found in a public restroom! One handle could have up to 11 million microorganisms, including some from raw meat. Not to mention dirty diapers and runny noses.

05/09/2022

Unfortunately, not everyone washes his or her hands after using the toilet. A CDC study showed that only 31% of men and 65% of women do so. Further, one study showed only about 5% of people actually wash their hands for the CDC-recommended 20 seconds or more. That means lots of people are walking out of the bathroom and touching the door and k***s with germy hands.

05/09/2022

05/09/2022