Q: The news about frightening diseases scares me. Catching a simple cold can stop me in my tracks. There’s a lot of talk about Ebola, but I’ve not heard about precautions to take.
A: Everyday germs can pose a risk to anyone. Just look at how our attitudes have changed about germs. Almost every grocery store offers sanitary wipes for folks to use on the shopping carts.
Hand sanitizers are a common grocery item and antibacterial soap is an ingredient in almost every kind of hand soap. We just don’t want to get sick! Who does? Let’s face it though, we can’t live germ free.
Our attempt would keep us living in a bubble and to list every risky area that could potentially harm us would take pages. So let’s focus on a few basics. There are areas in our homes and offices that carry higher amounts of bacteria. For instance, did you know things such as refrigerator handles or the household desk and phone are 10x more germ covered than our home toilets? Ick, right?
The reason is that our bathrooms get cleaned (hopefully) on a regular basis, while our desks surfaces and phones probably don’t get disinfected as often or if at all.
Use Clorox wipes to wipe handles, remotes, door knobs, telephones, pens, desk surfaces, and light switches! Sanitize your kitchen by wiping kitchen surfaces and the sink with diluted bleach and then put your sponge in the dishwasher to disinfect it.
Since most viruses are spread through direct contact, stay home if sick, or stand at least 3 feet away from someone who is coughing or sneezing. It is important to take the time to wash your hands thoroughly and pump up your immune system. When you are out, be mindful of germs in public places, such as menus, condiment containers, and restroom door handles.
It’s always a good idea to carry pocket-sized hand sanitizer for those situations. It’s wise to take caution when sitting in your doctor’s waiting area. Keep space in between you and the other people in the waiting room. The most important thing you can do is have a sensible approach to germ fighting.
Remember, germs are spread in various ways. If you combine some precautions with building up your immune system, you can fight off those sneaky germs with a common sense approach.
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