Germs spread from person to person quite easily in day to day life. You will find them almost everywhere, but there are ways to guard yourself and your family, and reduce your chances of getting sick. In this article, we’ll outline ways to guard yourself against germs in your daily life.
1. Keep Your Hands Clean
One of the most important steps to guard against germs is keeping your hands clean. Make it a habit to wash your hands frequently and efficiently using soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser. Consider using an antibacterial soap when you take a bath. Wash your hands after using the bathroom, touching shared objects, caring for a sick person, changing diapers, coughing, or sneezing.
2. Disinfect Surfaces Routinely
Wipe down your kitchen and bathroom surfaces with a household disinfectant or a bleach solution at least once a day. If there is someone unwell in the house, disinfect other areas around the house too. Wiping down with just water and soap may not be enough. Some viruses like influenza can live on surfaces for 48 hours. When you have small children in the house, opt for hard surface toys that are easy to clean and disinfect.
3. Avoid Sharing Personal Items
Germs can stay on the surfaces of common items like utensils, spoons, nebulizers, towels, or straws for hours. When you touch these items that come into contact with your body fluids or saliva, you spread the germs onto yourself. Avoid sharing personal items that you cannot disinfect, like toothbrushes and cigarettes. Objects like injection needles should only be used once and disposed of, never shared.
4. Wear a Mask
In the wake of the prevailing COVID-19 conditions, it has become necessary to practice social distancing and wear a mask in public spaces for personal protection and as a public health measure to curb its spread. Ensure the face mask adequately covers your mouth to the chin and nose for maximum protection. If you are unwell, stay at home and isolate yourself from the rest of the family as you undergo medication to avoid spreading the illness.
5. Handle Food Safely
Germs can be transferred through food. When preparing meals, especially raw meat, wash your hands, work surfaces, and utensils that you use well. Always wash your vegetables and fruits before consumption and cooking. Keep foods at proper temperatures and store them appropriately.
6. Keep Your Distance
When a person coughs or sneezes, germs get released into the air through the droplets, spreading up to six feet. Avoid close contact indoors or outdoors and stay at least six feet away from anyone with a cold, flu, cystic fibrosis, or any other contagious infection. If possible, avoid hugging, kissing, or shaking hands with someone battling an illness.
7. Get Vaccinated
Vaccines are effective in helping your body guard itself from disease-causing germs. Vaccines for both children and adults are designed to protect them from various infectious diseases, especially communicable ones. Vaccinations are either recommended or a mandatory requirement by the state.
Endnote
With precautions and some effort, it is possible to guard yourself and your loved ones from germs. These tips will keep you informed on the best practices that you can apply in your daily life to keep illnesses and infections at bay