WASH YOUR HANDS

I know this goes all the way back to lessons from mom but wash your hands often! The best way to prevent colds and flu, etc could be as simple as washing your hands. If it isn't convenient to wash your hands, keep an alcohol-based hand gel around. Every time you shake hands or handle a public door handle, shopping cart, etc, wash or gel your hands. Once the germs are on your hands and you touch your eyes, nose, or mouth, you are very likely to catch whatever the last person who handled said object has.

I found it interesting a few years ago after President Trump had his annual physical and his doctor came out to talk to the press. Among many silly questions asked was one about his hand washing and is he a germophobe. His doctor smiled and said something like this, "As much as he shakes hands, he would be crazy not to wash his hands often." The same goes for each of us.

My personal opinion about covid-19 prevention is that hand gel is your best defense. I have spent a lot of time around covid. Being cautious about what you touch and using hand get can go a long way in prevention of this crazy illness and others..

DR. TRAVIS STORK ON PREVENTING COLDS AND FLU

Dr. Travis Stork is not only a popular TV personality from the show The Doctors, he is also an ER physician.  He says one of the best ways to prevent colds and flu is to avoid touching your nose, eyes, or mouth before washing your hands.  This is a quote from Dr. Travis.

"If I shake hands with people, I don't rub my eyes until I've washed my hands.  I think it's one of the reasons I rarely get sick.  I haven't had the flu since I was a kid."

An important reminder to us all as we head into cold and flu season! Personally, I would add this is very important to help prevent the spread of covid.

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HANDWASHING SCIENCE

During the covid pandemic we all became even more tuned in to handwashing. We've probably all heard to wash our hands for 20 seconds, as long as it takes to sing "Happy Birthday" twice, etc. My husband was hospitalized several times during that period and one of the doctors told me using a good bubbly soap was important. I think most of us just decided, "Okay, whatever, just wash your hands."

During all the hoopla someone decided to give us the science behind handwashing. A study was done and published in Physics of Fluids. It was found that the surfaces of our hands operate as potential wells in which dirt and particles, such as viruses and bacteria, can get stuck. You can get rid of them by using fast-paced movement that loosens them and carries them out of your hands. This takes about 20 seconds of vigorous movement with soapy water to really get the job done. So, remember to use running water, bubble producing soap, and vigorous movement to wash those viruses, etc down the drain.