Flu Season is Here: Learn Practical Tactics to Keep You and Your Family Safe from Colds and Flu
Renowned Microbiologist, Charles (Dr. Germ) Gerba and Certified Germ Freak Mom Allison Janse, co authors of "The Germ Freak's Guide to Outwitting Colds and Flu" are available for interviews on this timely topic.
Deerfield Beach, FL (PRWEB) October 11, 2005
Between the possible pandemic bird flu scare and October marking the official opening of flu season, Dr. Charles Gerba, an expert on infectious disease, reveals practical tactics to minimize the threat of colds and flu. Dr. Gerba, referred by the media as "Dr. Germ," offers guerilla tactics to outwit the germs that surround us. As portrayed in the news, recent research shows that bacteria or germs contribute greatly to the state of our health.
When the hacking and sniffling season begins, most Americans have some personal germ avoidance tactics they employ to keep themselves healthy. Unfortunately, many of these habits don’t work -- and some of them actually make us more susceptible to illness. Using scientific data and tips, Gerba and Allison Janse, co-authors of The Germ Freak’s Guide to Outwitting Colds and Flu, bust the myths we have about where the germs are around us and give us the lowdown on how to survive flu season with your health, humor and sanity intact.
In your mission to fight colds and flu, Dr. Gerba first wants you to know where the germs are:
1) The average desktop at work has 400 times more bacteria than the toilet seat. When tested, a family dining room table had more germs than a kiddie ride at an amusement park.
2) While 95% of people surveyed said they wash their hands after using the restroom, only 67 of people actually did. Of that 67%, only 16% of them did it enough to kill all the germs
3) Stop touching your face and ears—the average adult touches his face one to three times every five minutes, that’s a free ride into your body—so find another nervous habit.
4) Avoid germ spreaders —since a sneeze can travel 3 feet.
Protect yourself at work:
1) Disinfect your desktop, keyboard, phone each day—especially before you eat.
2) Watch the coffee: twenty percent of the coffee cups Gerba tested in offices were oozing with fecal bacteria, probably from the sponges used to clean them
3) If you tote around a water bottle, wash it thoroughly because if you don’t you could be carting around hundreds of thousands of germs
4) If you work at a job where you come into contact with people, use an instant hand sanitizer when you need to touch them.
5) Avoid office food. Community cake is an invitation to contagion after some sick person blew out the candles with a big germy exhale. You’re best to avoid the bagels, too.
6) Bring your own lunch during cold and flu season!
Arm yourself with your very own “guerilla germ warfare kit:”
For home:
Pump dispenser soap (not antibacterial!) Disinfectant cleaner of sanitizer Recyclable paper towels Tissues Listerine or hydrogen peroxide (to disinfect toothbrushes) Rubber gloves Bleach
For purses and briefcases:
*To-go pack of toilet paper
To-go pack of toilet seat cover Travel-size instant hand sanitizer (when soap is not available) Disinfecting wipes or rubbing alcohol pads Band-Aids (not antibacterial) Tissues
For more information on how to prevent colds and flu, or to interview the authors of The Germ Freak’s Guide to Outwitting Colds and Flu, contact: Kim Weiss, (800) 851-9100 ext. 212.
Read more about "The Germ Freak's Guide to Outwitting Colds and Flu" at http://www. hcibooks. com/book-description. asp? BookID=726 (http://www. hcibooks. com/book-description. asp? BookID=726)
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