Here are the 7 Top Germiest Locations! I'd say to avoid them, but most of them are places we would have trouble avoiding. So be prepared....
Lemon Wedges
According to a 2007 study in the
Journal of Environmental Health, nearly 70% of the lemon wedges perched on the
rims of restaurant glasses contain disease-causing microbes. When the
researchers ordered drinks at 21 different restaurants, they found 25 different
microorganisms lingering on the 76 lemons that they secured, including E. coli
and other fecal bacteria. Tell your server that you'd prefer your beverage sans
fruit. Why risk it?
Condiment dispensers
It's the rare eatery that regularly
bleaches its condiment containers. And the reality is that many people don't
wash their hands before eating, says Kelly Reynolds, PhD. So while you may be
diligent, the guy who poured the ketchup before you may not have been, which
means his germs are now on your fries. Squirt hand sanitizer on the outside of
the condiment bottle or use a disinfectant wipe before you grab it. Holding the
bottle with a napkin won't help; napkins are porous, so microorganisms can pass
right through, Reynolds says.
Restroom door handles
Don't think you can escape the
restroom without touching the door handle? Palm a spare paper towel after you
wash up and use it to grasp the handle. Yes, other patrons may think you're a
germ-phobe--but you'll never see them again, and you're the one who won't get
sick.
Soap dispensers
About 25% of public restroom
dispensers are contaminated with fecal bacteria. Soap that harbors bacteria may
seem ironic, but that's exactly what a recent study found. "Most of these
containers are never cleaned, so bacteria grow as the soap scum builds
up," says Charles Gerba, PhD. "And the bottoms are touched by dirty
hands, so there's a continuous culture feeding millions of bacteria." Be
sure to scrub hands thoroughly with plenty of hot water for 15 to 20
seconds--and if you happen to have an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, use that,
too.
Grocery carts
The handles of almost two-thirds of
the shopping carts tested in a 2007 study at the University of Arizona were
contaminated with fecal bacteria. In fact, the bacterial counts of the carts
exceeded those of the average public restroom. Swab the handle with a
disinfectant wipe before grabbing hold (stores are starting to provide them, so
look around for a dispenser). And while you're wheeling around the supermarket,
skip the free food samples, which are nothing more than communal
hand-to-germ-to-mouth zones.
Airplane bathrooms
When Gerba tested for microbes in the
bathrooms of commercial jets, he found surfaces from faucets to doorknobs to be
contaminated with E. coli. It's not surprising, then, that you're 100 times
more likely to catch a cold when you're airborne, according to a recent study
in the Journal of Environmental Health Research. I bring sanitized wipes to clean the tray off. I also take an Immune Support product before the flight.
Doctor's office
A doctor's office is not the place
to be if you're trying to avoid germs. These tips can help limit your exposure.
1. Take your own books and magazines
(and kid's toys, if you have your children or grandchildren with you).
2. Also pack your own tissues and
hand sanitizers, which should be at least 60% alcohol content.
3. In the waiting room, leave at
least two chairs between you and the other patients to reduce your chances of
picking up their bugs. Germ droplets from coughing and sneezing can travel
about 3 feet before falling to the floor.
For all these places, just remember to wash hands frequently with soap and water.
Now that you are totally disgusted, just realize you are bound to come in contact with germs just about everywhere...so wash hands and BE SMART!
http://www.healthy-environments.com
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