WILMINGTON, Mass., Feb. 26, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- If you want to
avoid catching a cold or the flu this winter season, keep yourself
and your surroundings as hygienically clean as possible.
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140226/NE72444 )
Although that can sound like a daunting task, it need not be
with a slightly more conscious cleanliness effort. Keeping
illness-causing organisms at bay can be largely accomplished by
adopting three basic behaviors.
- Regularly wash your hands with soap and water
- Use alcohol-based hand sanitizers when soap and water are
unavailable
- Keep common surfaces around you clean using such aids as
microfiber cloths and mops
If you're going to focus on just one behavior to maintain as
healthy a lifestyle as possible, it should be on keeping your hands
clean because that's primarily how germs and viruses infect your
body. They hitchhike rides on your hands and then wait for you to
touch your nose, mouth, or eyes. At that point, it's all over.
You're infected.
Everyone's hands, particularly during cold and flu seasons, are
veritable germ factories, so keep them away from your face, says
Dr. Sandra Fryhofer, an adjunct
associate professor at Emory University School
of Medicine. You should even think twice about your eating
habits in order to remain cold and flu free, Dr. Fryhofer says.
"I try to bring something (to work) I can eat with a spoon or
fork, rather than a sandwich I have to handle," Dr. Fryhofer told
www.webmd.com. If not, be doubly sure to wash your hands prior to
eating.
If soap and water are unavailable, the medical community has
long advocated the use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers. But keep
in mind that such sanitizers are only intended to kill bacteria and
should not be used to clean your hands of traditional soiling, says
Adam Soreff, Director of Marketing
for UniFirst (www.unifirst.com), a leading provider of work
uniforms and facility service products to businesses throughout the
U.S. and Canada.
"Soap and water should be your first hand cleaning choice
whenever readily available," Soreff says. "But in public areas,
such as hallways, offices, and cafeterias, seek out alcohol-based
hand sanitizer stations to help keep hands free of infectious
organisms."
Hand sanitizers, Soreff notes should contain at least 60 percent
alcohol to kill germs. "Anything less than that runs the risk of
being ineffective."
GOJO Industries, the makers of Purell® Hand Sanitizer, offers
this guidance to get maximum germ-killing action from sanitizers:
"Place enough product in your palm to thoroughly cover your hands.
Be sure to sanitize the front and backs of your hands, as well as
between your fingers and under your nails. Rub hands together
briskly until dry. No rinsing required. No towels needed."
During cold and flu season, you should also be particularly
vigilant when touching common surfaces. That's because people who
are already infected may have come in contact with those surfaces
and left germs and viruses behind. So be wary when touching such
things as door handles, computer keyboards, light switches, desks,
and countertops. Even flooring can harbor infectious organisms
which can hop aboard something you drop, such as a pen or paper
clip.
Several studies have determined that microfiber is better than
cotton at capturing bacteria on common surfaces. For example, one
conducted by the University of California,
Davis Medical Center, compared the amount of bacteria picked
up by a cotton-loop mop and by a microfiber mop. The cotton-loop
mop reduced bacteria on the floors by 30%, whereas the microfiber
mop reduced bacteria by 99%.
No matter what type mop or wipes, the U.S. Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention advocates the regular cleaning,
mopping, and disinfecting of all surfaces during cold and flu
season. But don't forget to use only hygienically laundered mops
and wipes when cleaning those surfaces, says UniFirst's Soreff.
"Otherwise you run a greater risk of spreading infectious materials
from one room to another, defeating the purpose of cleaning."
The bottom line: To stay healthy during the cold and flu season,
always keep soap, sanitizers, and soiled surrounding surfaces front
of mind.
About UniFirst
UniFirst (NYSE: UNF), a North American leader in the supply and
servicing of uniforms, workwear, and protective clothing, outfits
more than 1.5 million workers each business day. The company's most
popular brands include UniWeave®, SofTwill®, UniWear®, and Armorex
FR®. UniFirst also offers Facility Service program, including floor
mats, mops, and restroom products. For more information, contact
UniFirst at 800-455-7654 or visit www.unifirst.com.
SOURCE UniFirst Corporation