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BellaOnline's Family Health Editor

Germ Protection

Millions of harmful germs and bacteria live on the surfaces we touch during the course of our everyday life. To prevent the spread of germs and illness, it is important to:

1. Wash your hands frequently throughout the day. A good rule of thumb is wash your hands not obsessively, but rather wash them after handling something that you know would contain bacteria.

2. Wash your hands immediately when you get home, before touching anything. This is important. This habit will prevent germs from being transferred from the outside world, onto your hands, into your home and it's furnishings.

3. Teach young children to wash their hands often, especially when they get home from school. Children 's hands can innocently pick up germs due to the many surfaces they touch during the day at school, which may or may not consist of bacteria that can cause serious illness.

4. Use antibacterial wipes to clean surfaces in your home.

5. To clean your hands, use warm water and soap. A mild or antibacterial soap that cleans the skin well and rinses quickly is best. Ivory soap is a good example. Take a minute and lather your hands. If the hands are very dirty, it is helpful to wash more than once to fully lift dirt and germs. Rinse well with warm water, and use a clean towel to dry with. Avoid damp towels because they can contain bacteria that can be transferred onto clean hands.

6. In the office, clean your phone and computer keyboard often. You can use an antibacterial wipe to do this. This will help to eliminate germs and bacteria. Use caution when cleaning these areas. Be careful not to drip the liquid into the phone or keyboard.

7. Wash your hands before eating. If you are out, use an antibacterial wipe before handling food and eating. Many germs enter the body through the mouth from our hands. Washing the hands helps to prevent this.

8. Always wash your hands before handling food, and remember to cook food well to eliminate bacteria.

9. If you must touch your eye, do so with a clean tissue only. Never rub your finger in the corner of your eye because it will transfer bacteria into the eye.

10. Consider washing new items, clothes, toys, and anything that will come into contact with your children. This is especially a good idea if you have very young children, as they have a tendency to put everything into their mouth. A quick wash with ivory soap and water takes only a minute. A quick cleaning in the dishwasher is also very helpful in eliminating germs.

11. Use an air purifier in your home to remove bacteria and irritants from the air. This will help you breathe clean air and become healthier. Air purifiers with a hepa filter or UV light work the best to eliminate bacteria in the air. Ozone generating air purifiers also are effective at eliminating bacteria, but Ozone should be avoided because it destroys lung tissue. The long term use of Ozone generating air purifiers has also been found to weaken the immune system and cause illness.

12. Cough and sneeze into a tissue to prevent the spread of airborne germs. Also avoid as best you can when others sneeze or cough, as germs are expelled out of the mouth and into the air this way. This can protect you from breathing in germs from the air that can infect you with an illness.

13. If you suspect you may have a cold or flu, stay home from work or school and take care of yourself to prevent infecting others.

14. Avoid touching public surfaces such as pay phones, bathroom door handles, escalator railings, etc. Keep in mind that surfaces that are frequently touched by large numbers of people contain millions of germs and bacteria. Avoid contact with these surfaces when you can, and if that is not possible wash or clean your hands after coming into contact with a public surface.

15. When you are out of your home, it is helpful to wash your hands both before and after using the restroom. It only takes a few seconds to wash and prevent the possible transference of bacteria from your hands to your body. This is a healthy habit especially for men.

16. Washing your hands before sex is also a healthy way to prevent the spread of germs and bacteria to intimate areas of the body, as well as the sensitive reproductive system.

17. As you know, at this time there is a serious flu virus circulating in the world. Be alert to your surroundings. Pay attention to the people you come into contact with. If you are in the company of someone that is ill, be kind and considerate, and at the same time protect your health and that of your loved ones. This means that you should avoid breathing in air that is contaminated by someone that is exhibiting flu symptoms. If you must care for someone that is ill, as will often be the case, wear a protective face mask to prevent the intake of germs into your body through your nose and mouth. Face masks are inexpensive and sold everywhere. They help to filter the air you breathe of contaminants. Frequent hand washing will also help to prevent the spread of germs from one infected person to another.

Germs are a fact of life. Not to be feared, but to be proactive about. The human immune system is equipped to handle and fight most germs, but it always makes sense to help our body stay healthy by preventing the spread of germs.

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