Keep Your Germs to Yourself

By: Marsha Turnbull, RN, Health Education Administrator, Health & Wellness Services
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We are constantly exposed to germs that cause colds all year around. There are 200 different cold viruses out there waiting for us. They are on door handles, elevator buttons, faucets, handrails, public transport, light switches, gym equipment and many other places. If that wasn't enough to worry about, we have bacteria that causes infections, residing on skin and objects waiting for a willing host and in the winter season we also have the additional exposure to the flu bug.

Bombs of coughs or sneezes can spray 40,000 infected droplets approximately 30 feet which then can be breathed in by other people or land on surfaces that others touch. Germs can easily be spread by shaking hands with someone who has a cold and then touching your face, nose, mouth or eyes. It's easy to transfer the virus once it is on your hands.

Here are some tips that may keep you healthy all throughout the year especially during the winter:

Wash, wash, wash your hands. Most cold and flu viruses are spread by direct contact or touching contaminated surfaces. Washing your hands with soap and water is the easiest and most effective ways to keep those cold and flu viruses away. When you don't have access to soap and water, you should wash your hands using an alcohol-based gel or foam to kill germs. Theses products can be found at any drug or grocery store.

Don't touch your eyes, nose, or mouth. Keep your hands away from your face. Once the virus is on your hands it is easy for germs to pass into our bodies through our mouth, eyes or nose.

Cough & sneeze into your sleeve. Transmission of germs from person to person by droplets is very common. Minimize the risk of spreading it around, but don't use your hands you'll spread the possible contagion to others with the next thing you touch. The next time you have to cough or sneeze try doing this in your sleeve at the bend of the elbow. Want a humorous tutorial on how to do this? Watch " Why don't we do it in our sleeves?"

Disinfect commonly touched surfaces. Disinfecting common surfaces such as telephones, faucet handles, the refrigerator door, remote and game controls, computer keyboard, and doorknobs can kill the germs that spread cold and flu. Wipe down exercise equipment before and after you use it, microbes thrive in the warm, damp environments.

Avoid close contact. Colds and flu are spread by direct contact, sneezing and coughing. A person can spread flu or cold germs a full day before exhibiting symptoms, and then up to several days after that. Keep social contact at a minimum during high incidence of colds and flu.

Stay at home if you are sick. Keep warm and stay in bed. Drink plenty of hot or cold liquids to maintain fluid levels. Limit your exposure to others.

Don't share. Towels, lip gloss, food, utensils or beverage containers can spread germs if contaminated. Keep personal items personal.

Keep your immune system strong. Eating healthy provides your immune system with the fuels it needs to fight infections. Keep stress to a minimum. Research shows that persons with chronic stress were more than twice as likely to become ill with a cold. Stay hydrated. Avoid infections by drinking water and keeping your system flushed. Get enough rest. Your body works overtime to hunt and destroy harmful germs when you're resting or relaxed. Stay Active. Exercise stimulates your immune system. Get some fresh air. In the winter people stay indoors and the germs spread faster. Central heating dries out your nasal passages, and leaves you more vulnerable to an infection. Open a window and allow air to circulate and push out those airborne viruses.

Some exposure to germs can help build up our immune systems, helping us to fight infections and stay healthy. Certain germs-when in the wrong place- can cause sickness, so it makes sense to practice the steps that will prevent these problems. The best way to conquer an illness such as the flu or cold is by avoidance.