Be a Germ Buster!
All year long, but especially vital during cold and flu season, we need to be vigilant germ busters! Here is how:
Lather Up! Washing your hands is top of the list for being a germ buster. That’s something we can all do. But we must do it right. So, before eating, after playing with a pet and after going to the bathroom, wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with warm, soapy water, paying attention to wash palms and finger tips, between fingers and the back of your hand. If soap and water are not available, use a dime-sized amount of hand sanitizer and rub it in all over your hands. Jewelry and fingernails trap a lot of germs, so remember to wash them too!
Don’t Touch! The T-zone, that is! That means ears, eyes, nose and mouth because these are the places where germs can enter the body.
Be a Super Hero! When you have to sneeze or cough, use your invisible cape... meaning your elbow, not you hand. By doing so, you will not spread germs.
Clean Up! Wipe up germs with anti bacterial wipes on places where there are lots of them: cell phones, doorknobs, light switches, TV remotes, computer keyboards, keys and counters.
Leave It at the Door! Your shoes, that is. They carry germs from wherever you have been…public restrooms, the street, school, work, bus… germs are everywhere! Wear separate indoor shoes for around the house.
And of course, getting a good night’s sleep, eating well and managing stress are also important ways to help your immune system be at its best which helps you become more germ resistant. So, be a germ buster!
Germy Facts:
- Typically there are between 10,000 and 10 million bacteria on each hand.
- Damp hands spread 1,000 times more germs than dry hands.
- The number of germs on your fingertips doubles after you use the toilet.
- An uncovered sneeze can travel up to 100 miles per hour and can send about 100,000 germs in the air. So, please use your invisible cape.
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Studies show only about 70% of people wash their hands after using a public toilet.
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