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Highlands Today

Staying Healthy Involves Killing Germs

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By Raleigh Whiteman | Highlands Today

Published: August 15, 2008

The cost of gasoline for transportation has caused a big reduction in the amount of traffic on the roads, which indicates we are all staying home unless absolutely necessary. This is going to eventually cause the syndrome of "cabin fever" to affect many of us and possibly the real fever of increased illnesses.

Most colds or other illnesses are caused by the spread of germs and bacteria among ourselves when we come in contact with infected persons or things containing dangerous germs and bacteria.

The following are some of the places you're likely to encounter germs and bacteria during an average day and suggestions in ways for you to keep clean After all, the fight is in your hands. Literally, almost all infections are spread through hand contact. So wash up, people, and get ready to wage a bit of germ warfare.

Germs Are Everywhere

Kitchen sinks are dirtier than most bathrooms. There are typically more than 500,000 bacteria per square inch in the drain alone. Plus your sponge, basin and faucet handles are crawling with bacteria as well.

The best thing to do is to clean up immediately after eating and never let dirty dishes stand with food overnight. Dishwashers are the most effective germ killer.

A load of wet laundry sitting in a hamper is a breeding place for very dangerous bacteria. Our underwear is full of E. Coli and fecal germs. Just one soiled undergarment can spread bacteria to the whole load and machine, plus when you transfer underwear from the washer to the dryer, you're getting E. Coli on your hands.

Wash your laundry in hot water and always wash your hands after handling clothes from the washer to the dryer.

Bottled Water Justified

Drinking fountains are bound to be germy, but school fountains are the worst with thousands to millions of bacteria per square inch on the spigot.

We often have to drink from these conveniences, but please avoid touching the fountain with your mouth. Bottled water is safer.

Saliva, bacteria and fecal matter are just a few of the substances found on shopping cart handles. Cart handles rank high on the yuck scale because they re handled by dozens of people every day and, of course, raw food carries nasty pathogens.

I have watched as some people will get into their purse and get a wipe and clean the handle before using the cart. That's a good idea even if it seems to be overcautious.

Dirty Money

If you're not careful, you might pick up more than quick cash from your local ATM. These buttons have more gunk on them than most public-bathroom doorknobs!

Keep a germicide wipe handy to clean your hands after getting your cash.

There's just no way to put this delicately: Children tend to ooze bodily fluids and then spread them around. When researchers sampled playgrounds, they found blood, mucus, saliva and urine.

Perhaps this is why we seem to always come down with a cold immediately after our grandkids pay us a visit.

Nasty TV

What's the first thing you do when you settle in at a hotel? You grab the remote control and switch on the TV - you, and the hundreds of other guests who've stayed there. How dirty is it? A recent study tested various surfaces for the cold virus after a group of sick people had stayed overnight and found the virus on the remote, door handles, light switches, pens and faucet handles.

Keep your hands away from your face and eyes after using anything which may have germs from other people's use.

Raleigh Whiteman, of Lake Placid, is a contributing writer to Highlands Today. You can reach him on the Internet at rwwhiteman@comcast.net

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