Tis the Season! The busy holiday season is quickly approaching, which means for many there will be lots of festivities to take part in, shopping in crowded stores, and straying from regular eating patterns. With so much on the go, trying to avoid a dreaded cold or flu bug is one more thing to add to your To Do List.I’ve decided to take a cue from the hypervigilant crews on cruise ships whose job it is to keep the germs at bay. Their efforts are featured in the story Cruise Through Winter Without Getting Sick in the November issue of Prevention magazine.
The article notes that housekeeping staff on cruise ships are constantly cleaning. It is estimated that one ship’s staff will go through 5,000 gallons of hospital grade disinfectant and 4,000 rags during a day. That’s a lot of cleaning! I probably don’t need to go to those efforts but I will likely try to avoid the 6 germ hot spots:
In addition to these 6 germ hot spots, we can be our own worst enemy. Research shows that during the next hour, you’ll touch your mouth eight times, your nose five times, and your eyes three times. A first class ticket to not getting sick, is to stop touching your face altogether.
Even though this is the season of giving, if you do end up coming down with something, please don’t share the joy. Stay home and take care of yourself until your symptoms are gone. Do enjoy the upcoming holiday season, have fun celebrating with friends and family, and stay healthy. Ho! Ho! Ho!
– Heather Stephens