Fending Off Germs
|
| |
The Secret to Fending Off Germs This Winter is in Your Hands
(Family Features) Take a walk outside this winter with your coat buttoned and you will probably catch a chill, but you re not likely to catch a cold. That s because most common illnesses are spread by germs, and germs are usually spread by hands.
In fact, four out of five common illnesses are spread by hands, according to Dr. Charles Gerba, professor of environmental microbiology at the University of Arizona.
Come winter and cold weather, we invariably spend more time indoors touching more shared surfaces, thus exposing our hands to more illness-causing germs, says Dr. Gerba. It s impossible to eliminate all of the germs from everything we touch in our on-the-go lives " but we can prevent the spread of those germs by practicing good hand hygiene.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), keeping hands clean is one of the most important steps in avoiding getting sick and spreading germs to others.
Effective hand hygiene practices include washing hands frequently with soap and water and, when soap and water are not available, using an alcohol-based instant hand sanitizer, like PURELL Instant Hand Sanitizer.
More often than not, we touch surfaces and visit places where we don t have instant access to soap and a sink, says Gerba. It s at these everyday moments when alcohol-based instant hand sanitizers offer the best protection against the spread of germs.
So if you want to stay warm this winter, button up that coat, but if you want to help prevent the spread of germs, put your best (clean) hands forward for a happy, healthier season.
(The CDC is not affiliated with the marketers of PURELL Instant Hand Sanitizer.)
For more information, visit www.purell.com
|
|
|
 |
|
