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SimiValleyHospital.com |
Living Well
3
YOU CAN’T TELL
by looking, but germs are all
around you.
They spread through the air when someone coughs
or sneezes. They’re on the doorknob that your feverish
co-worker just touched. And they multiply on desks, kitchen
counters and surfaces everywhere—some lingering for months.
Your body’s immune system does its best to attack and destroy
germs. But you can do your part too. Keep your immunizations up-to-date and follow these safeguards:
Scrub up!
There’s handwashing and then there’s handwashing. Scrub yours the right way: vigorously and thoroughly
with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. That’s the time it takes to hum the “Happy Birthday” song twice.
Tote a bug-free bag.
Reusable grocery bags are great for the environment. But they’re also a potential
breeding ground for harmful bacteria. To avoid getting sick, put meat, poultry and fish in different plastic
bags before placing them in your reusable bag. And wash reusable
bags frequently.
Keep it clean.
In one study of 22 households, dish
sponges harbored more germs than any other item.
So every day, toss them in the dishwasher and use
the drying cycle, or microwave damp sponges
for one minute. Replace them often—and right
away if they smell.
Wipe it down.
Research shows that the
average office desktop has 400 times more
bacteria than the average toilet seat. So treat your
desk as you do your kitchen table. Clean it thoroughly
before eating from it—no exceptions.
Don’t let it spread.
Cross-contamination occurs when
disease-causing bacteria spread from one food to another, often
by way of a cutting board. So always use a clean cutting board. And use
separate ones for raw meat, poultry, fish and ready-to-eat foods, such as fresh produce.
Sources: Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics; Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology; National Institutes of Health
Germ
alert
Keep your
kids healthy
Keeping germs under control
is a great way to help keep
your kids healthy, but it’s also
important to stay up-to-date
with your immunizations.
If you don’t have a pediatrician,
call
805-955-8000
or look
for one online by visiting
SimiValleyHospital.com
.