Avoiding Germs this Winter

Avoiding Germs this Winter

Well, it’s cold and flu season again—when venturing out into the public can make you feel like you are in a snow globe of germs. People everywhere are sneezing, coughing, wiping, blowing…it’s enough to give any healthy person the heebie geebies, right?

Your first line of defense against being “hit” with someone else’s germs is to not allow yourself to become an easy target. By that I mean you must work to keep your own immune system strong this winter so that another’s germs do not find a weakened ‘guard’ on duty at your ‘place’. You can accomplish this by clocking at least 7 hours of sleep each night, making sure you eat plenty of fruit and vegetables with brightly colored flesh (high in immune-boosting nutrients), taking your vitamins–regularly, and keeping well hydrated.

Next you want to avoid habitually rubbing your eyes, nose, or touching your mouth throughout the day. Try as you may to the contrary, your hands will be carriers of other peoples germs—just don’t use them to carry those unwanted “bugs” directly to your moist, germ-incubating orifices.

Don’t pass up an opportunity to pass on someone else’s germs. When you’re out and about in the coming months, use these tips to help keep others’ germs from getting to you:

• When in public places such as gyms, restaurants, or church, use your forearm to push open doors whenever possible.
• Use a paper towel when turning off a public water faucet, using a water fountain (don’t get too close!), and when opening the door to leave a restroom.
• Take advantage of the hand sanitizer sheets many supermarkets now have located nearby the front door to wipe down the handle of your shopping cart.

Finally whenever you return home from the outside world you should walk directly to the sink for a good hand washing. Lather your hands, front and back, and wash for a full 10 seconds—enough time to sing one stanza of Row, Row, Row Your Boat. (Though you may just want to keep those lyrics to yourself.)

By carefully following these suggestions you can avoid picking up all those germy hitchhikers.