Tips for Avoiding Cold and Flu Germs

On top of basic hand washing, there are a few more precautions you can take to avoid all those public germy areas

We are all aware that hand washing is the best prevention for eliminating the transmission of germs. But, it is not always possible to wash hands every time you touch something that has already been infected.

It is almost impossible to keep hands away from our faces, too, and that is bound to cause problems, especially during cold and flu season. Those germs are just determined to give us a cold or a bout of flu if we're not careful.

Our first line of defense when out in public is the handy dandy little alcohol wipe. The other types seem to leave a sticky residue on the fingers. Alcohol evaporates quickly and a box of them is inexpensive.

You can - and should - use alcohol wipes to clean the handle on shopping carts. Wipe your own fingers as soon as you leave the store and before you touch car door handles or the steering wheel.

You can devise ways to avoid touching some door handles. Back out of a restroom or front door or use the heel of your hand. You are less likely to touch your face with the heel as opposed to the fingers.

If you reach for a door handle, use an index finger and crook it around the top portion - or far left or right - of the bar or handle. The majority of people grasp the middle section and that's where the most germs will reside. Don't forget the freezer section doors in the grocery aisles, either.

If you're paying with cash, try to use exact change whenever possible. That eliminates any money with someone else's germs, landing in your hands and then hanging around in purses and pockets.

If you are writing a check, use your own pen. The one sitting on the counter or handed over by a clerk will be another germ-carrier.

If you are using a credit or debit card, after swiping the card through the machine, use a pen to punch in the required codes and avoid the stylus that is also playing host to other people's illnesses.

Now, let's move on to the pump handles at a gas station. Think about how many people have already filled up gas tanks. Carry a spare pair of gloves and put them on before pumping gas - you'll avoid a whole mess of germs here.

These precautions may not prevent you from catching a bug, but making them a habit will certainly decrease the chances of spending a few miserable days in bed.