How to Avoid Germs
Germs can be found in many places. This article will tell you how to avoid spreading and catching germs.
Image via Wikipedia
You can catch germs in schools, work, stores, libraries, restrooms, etc. If you are like me, you become very germ conscious when you are around the public. I feel as if I am becoming a germaphobe. I always look for ways to avoid germs. You would be surprised at the amount of colds you could avoid catching or spreading by avoiding germs. Here are some ways on how to avoid germs.
Avoid catching germs
Avoid touching your mouth, eyes, and nose when you are out in public. You can catch germs by rubbing your eyes and nose and by putting your fingers in your mouth.
Wash your hands thoroughly. You should wash your hands with soap for 15-20 seconds. If you’re not sure if you’ve washed them long enough, sing the “Happy Birthday” song at least two or three times while you are washing your hands. That should give you the time you need to get them clean. You should make sure to wash under your nails. Germs could be under your nails too especially if they are really long.
You should use hand sanitizer. I used this religiously. You should always keep a large supply of hand sanitizer in your house. You should also carry it out with you. Hand sanitizer is one of the best ways to avoid catching germs. When using hand sanitizer, you should make sure it has enough Ethyl Alcohol. It should be 62% or higher. Anything lower will not be enough protection.
You should use hand wipes when you’re out in public. If you do the grocery shopping, you should use a hand wipe to wipe off the shopping cart handle or the hand basket. You can also use them on public computers. Make sure to wipe off the keyboard, the mouse, and the table. The computer area carries a lot of germs because many people use them. People may look at me like I’m crazy when I wipe down the area, but I do it anyway.
If you’re in a public restroom and the toilet doesn’t flush on it’s own, you can flush the toilet with your foot. This might be awkward if you are in a small stall, but at least you won’t be touching it with your hands. Before you leave the stall, take a piece of tissue and open the door to the stall. You can use that same tissue to turn on the faucet and to open the door if it has one. Using the tissue will keep you from using your hands.
Avoid Spreading Germs
If you are sick, there are ways to avoid spreading germs to other.
You should use hand sanitizer whenever you cough or sneeze in your hands. This is especially important if you cook for your family. If you don’t use hand sanitizer, wash your hands thoroughly.
Put your germed tissues in a ziplock bag and not the garbage bag. A ziplock bag will seal the germs better than a garbage can.
If you have to cough or sneeze, you should do it in your shoulder or the bend of your elbow. You could also cough or sneeze inside your shirt. This will keep you from coughing or sneezing into your hands.
You should use a tissue when you cough or sneeze. This is common knowledge, but you would be surprised at how many people don’t do this.
When your cold is over, you should throw out your toothbrush. This will keep you from giving yourself germs and making you sick again.
I don’t get colds that much anymore because I do these tips to avoid germs. I only get about one or two colds a year. Hopefully these tips will work for you too.
Liked it
fishfry aka Elizabeth Figueroa | Sep 30, 2009 | Reply
Great article, especially with Flu season and swine flu season upon us; along with winter.
Germs are every where and every times you touch your face, or use your hands to touch things or shake hands, your constantly putting yourself at risk.
Awesome article.
cassandra antares | Sep 30, 2009 | Reply
Great ideas and article!
soapgirl | Sep 30, 2009 | Reply
I’m lucky because I rarely get sick. They do have those hand wipes at the grocery store. I’m the odd girl that’s wearing gloves when she’s going out.
sexy sunshine143 | Sep 30, 2009 | Reply
Using a paper towel to open the bathroom door as you exit is something very good against germs. Washing the hands and singing the Happy Birthday song is a neat idea. This is a great article to read especially for those people that sneeze without covering their mouths and really loud too. Great ideas.
friendshipter | Sep 30, 2009 | Reply
Great article.. very informative. Thanx. I also agree
with marlenerami26 as well.
Check out my articles.. thoughts, plez
thanx..
Ruby Hawk | Sep 30, 2009 | Reply
These are great tips for flu season. I really like that the grocery store have the sanatizing wipes on their door. So many people touch the cart handles. I feel that will save us a lot of colds and flu this winter.
Rose2798 | Sep 30, 2009 | Reply
These are good tips! I use hand sanitizer religiously lol…
Judy Sheldon | Sep 30, 2009 | Reply
CA, thanks for the great tips! I added links to two of your other articles about head and chest congestion to my blog. Thanks for the very good advice to help us get through cold and flu season.
Take care & god bless.
wonder | Sep 30, 2009 | Reply
The happy birthday song is motivating, many things are linked with good manners also–that speak well of a person.Good article.
unown971 | Oct 1, 2009 | Reply
Germs are a real problem. But not all germs are bad! Great work though!
Christine Ramsay | Oct 1, 2009 | Reply
Good tips. I like the one about flushing the loo with your foot. Being an oldie I can’t imagine me standing on my head to do this and the handle is so high up, lol. A good article.
Christine
Diverseblogger | Oct 1, 2009 | Reply
Very interesting article and informative! Keep up the great work
Liane Schmidt | Oct 1, 2009 | Reply
Good work – - valuable tips *:)
Blessings.
Sincerely,
-Liane Schmidt.
BC Doan | Oct 1, 2009 | Reply
Great tips CA! I use hand sanitizer throughout the day, but I didn’t wipe off the computer area in the library..Must remember this one!
Darla Smith | Oct 1, 2009 | Reply
Great tips! Thanks for sharing.
martinpm | Oct 1, 2009 | Reply
nice article, well researched thanks for the tips!
giftarist | Oct 1, 2009 | Reply
Great post! very informative!
diamondpoet | Oct 1, 2009 | Reply
I worked in a hospital and I found that evertime I either entered or exited a patient and used the germacide foam, also with a good regiment of vitamins. I was the only member of my section that did not get sick. thank you for that info.
Nikita K | Oct 1, 2009 | Reply
Brilliant article for this weather actually. I think these precautions are ones that we must take round the clock as opposed to just this season. Never really knew about the used toothbrush thing but still, HURRAH for the hand sanitiser!!!!
LilRoastBeef | Oct 1, 2009 | Reply
great article!! Valuable information for those that do not know!!
Yovita Siswati | Oct 2, 2009 | Reply
Thanks for the tips
emmahaynes | Oct 3, 2009 | Reply
Good tips! Thanks
Avaxier | Oct 4, 2009 | Reply
Great tips! This will help me stay healthy. Thanks!
Melody Arcamo Lagrimas | Oct 4, 2009 | Reply
Very helpful tips.
Julia L. White | Oct 7, 2009 | Reply
Great advice on the toothbrush-also should never store toothbrushes near toilet, and that water can spray 20 feet—you just don’t see the particles in the air.
LOVELY HONEY | Oct 9, 2009 | Reply
i have an obssession i wash my hands ten times if not more each day
good article
T.Rex McGoogle | Oct 22, 2009 | Reply
Thanks for so many unique tips. This is a good time to practice
such advice. Enjoyed your article
Dentist Bradenton | Jan 18, 2010 | Reply
Hygiene is the avoidance of infection or food spoiling by eliminating microorganisms from the surroundings. As microorganisms, particularly bacteria, are found practically everywhere, this means in most cases the reduction of harmful microorganisms to acceptable levels. However, in some cases it is required that an object or substance be completely sterile, i.e. devoid of all living entities and viruses. A good example of this is a hypodermic needle.
In food preparation microorganisms are reduced by preservation methods (such as the addition of vinegar), clean utensils used in preparation, short storage periods or by cool temperatures. If complete sterility is needed, the two most common methods are irradiation and the use of an autoclave, which resembles a pressure cooker.
There are several methods for investigating the level of hygiene in a sample of food, drinking water, equipment etc. Water samples can be filtrated through an extremely fine filter. This filter is then placed in a nutrient medium. Microorganisms on the filter then grow to form a visible colony. Harmful microorganisms can be detected in food by placing a sample in a nutrient broth designed to enrich the organisms in question. Various methods, such as selective media or PCR, can then be used for detection. The hygiene of hard surfaces, such as cooking pots, can be tested by touching them with a solid piece of nutrient medium and then allowing the microorganisms to grow on it.
There are no conditions where all microorganisms would grow, and therefore often several different methods are needed. For example, a food sample might be analyzed on three different nutrient mediums designed to indicate the presence of “total” bacteria (conditions where many, but not all, bacteria grow), molds (conditions where the growth of bacteria is prevented by e.g. antibiotics) and coliform bacteria (these indicate a sewage contamination).