Everyone is on the lookout for H1N1 – Swine flu this season.  What are some of the germiest places to avoid? A recent article helped remind us that many common access public areas are germ hot spots.  You can use hand sanitizers every couple minutes or wear gloves all day. A antibacterial wipe handy to clean the following areas:

Areas of concern:

• Door knobs
• escalator rails
• keyboards, mice
• telephones
• phones
• kiosks
• food kept in drawers
• communal showers
• swimming pools
• ATM keypads
• Gas station pump handles and payment keypads
• shopping carts
• mailbox handle
• parking meters
• crosswalk buttons
• vending machine buttons

In the home:

• Remote controls
• Sponges
• Cleaning cloths
• toothbrush holders
• make up cases
• remove your shoes – recent studies have found people can bring in lead particles and other contaminants by wearing their shoes inside the home.

Airplane:

Airplanes are a major source of germs and have made us sick on many occasions. When the air circulation is turned off, infections can spread like wild fire. Here are some tips on surviving in this battleground:

• Use hand sanitizer after clearing security checkpoints
• The infection hot zone is 2 seats in front, behind, and on either side of you
• Change seats if you are near a sick person
• Direct the air vent to blow right in front of your face to deflect germs
• Disinfect tray tables before using
• Don’t use seat back pockets
• Use hand sanitizer after touching seats or latches to the overhead storage bin
• Don’t fill water bottles in the bathroom sink
• Stay hydrated
• Keep your nasal passages moist with saline spray
• Complain if the plane’s air circulation is shut off
• Avoid airline pillows and blankets
• Use hand sanitizer before touching your face
• All surfaces in the bathroom

Not all is lost, per the article… Every day, we encounter a large amount of live organisms and become covered with fecal matter from them. No amount of hand sanitizer can keep you completely protected.  The human body is very good at defending against this, otherwise we would be sick all the time.

Thorough and frequent hand washing will help keep these germs at bay. The CDC has a guide on how to wash your hands correctly.