Do you know how to avoid germs when traveling?

By Diane Porter November 27, 2008 - 7:39pm

Rate This

The holidays are prime travel time for so many of us. We know that to avoid getting sick we need to wash our hands as often as possible, but a CNN Health article about places germs lurk may surprise you.

How often do you sanitize your hands after using an ATM?

Possibly never, says the article, but think of how many people's fingers touch those same few keys in a day -- or even an hour.

Same thing for an escalator -- we rarely think to wash our hands after using one, but hundreds of hands can touch an escalator in just a few hours, especially at a busy airport or train station.

Did you know to sit near the front of an airplane? Ventilation systems provide better circulation there, said the article's expert. And opt for bottled water or soda instead of airplane coffee or tea: "While boiling water for one minute will remove pathogens from drinking water, the water used to prepare coffee and tea aboard a plane is not generally brought to a sufficiently high temperature to guarantee that pathogens are killed," says the EPA's Web site.

Here's a link to the full article:

http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/11/27/ep.avoid.germs.traveling/index.html

Add a Comment3 Comments

Anonymous

I loved this article. I actually am one of those gals that has hand sanitizer in my purse, car, at work and home. I do actually use the sanitizer every time I use an ATM machine. I also use two escalators coming into work everyday and have to use sanitizer as soon as I sit down at my desk. I am also a stickler for cleaning my computer keyboard....I saw a show on 60 Minutes several years ago that amazed me at what grows right underneath your hands....YUCK.

Thanks for the share. Great article.

November 29, 2008 - 9:19am

This Comment

Improved My Health
Changed My Life
Saved My Life

Empowered

Tina Tran

Great tips Diane. I thought I had taken big steps in carrying either hand sanitizer or hand sanitizing cloths on trips. I have never thought of reaching for them after pulling up to the ATM, however, but it makes complete sense. I'm also going to request seats at the front of the plane. Why take chances? And I agree with Coach Virginia that shoring up your immune system is key. I've heard that magnesium can help with this. Does anyone know whether this is true?

November 28, 2008 - 8:41am

This Comment

Improved My Health
Changed My Life
Saved My Life

Coach Virginia

Nice article Diane P. It is a fact of life that we live in a world of germs. For those of us who have children in school age, we know that schools are also a BIG germ factory and it does not stop there! More than likely one of those germs will make its way home. Airplanes are my next culprit. Air vents and circulation are best carriers of germs. Since most airlines no longer offer food on board I am no longer worried about intestinal bacterium that can be acquired through the onboard feeding process. Regardless of this, airport food stands can be as bad as food on board. We are an easy target if the immune system is not prepared to fight back or protect us from unwanted invaders. In addition to the CNN article, I think we need to ensure equipping our bodies with the tools needed to strengthen the immune system at least for upper respiratory illnesses. Drinking beverages on board an airline is a gamble and we may not always be protected 100%. The CNN article advices to have bottled water or soda, I guess it assumes that you do not get ice with it either. I always wonder where the ice came from and where it is stored....

November 27, 2008 - 10:32pm