Keeping Germ Free This Cold & Flu Season

With Lots of Germs Filtering and Contaminating People, it is Important to Keep Clean

The dry throat, stuffy and runny nose, and of course sneezing and coughing are all components of the nasty common cold. Head colds this time of year are common and very contagious. Many colds are spread through germs and bacteria from our saliva or viral fluids through coughing and sneezing.

It may surprise many to find that there are more germs found in the office than many other places. In fact, there are more germs on a typical worker's desk than a toilet seat, according to a University of Arizona study in 2002.

Also, phones are on of the best way to catch a cold because people touch them so often.

While the common cold is not commonly deadly, there are other similar viruses that are also readily spread through viral fluids and touching. For example, strep throat, pneumonia, and several other colds are highly contagious.

This is also a huge concern in classrooms. With that many contagious children, it is quite likely that students will pick up each others germs. This time of year teachers are often sick as well.

Keeping antibacterial gel, lotion, wipes, and other disinfectants in the room is important. It is also important to wash hands frequently.

While many viruses are caused by bacteria and can be treated with antibiotics, there are also several colds that are caused by viruses, which are smaller than bacteria. These are unable to be treated with antibiotics.

The germs on a toilet seat tend to be about 49 per square inch. Desktops however, have 21,000 germs per square inch. The dirtiest items are typically phones. Phones have germs from our hands, ears and mouth. Office phones tend to have 25,000 germs per square inch.

Coughing and sneezing can leave behind a vast array of viruses that can live for three days on any given surface. That means a co-worker who talked on the phone two days ago that is now home sick could possibly spread their illness. That also means that taking an antibacterial or disinfecting wipe and disinfecting the phone could save other people in your office from getting sick.