Germs, those nasty little things that make us sick. Learn How You Can Do Your Part To Prevent Them From Spreading

Germs are inevitable and can be very dangerous, causing a wide range of infectious diseases.  While some people go to the extremes to avoid germs, most people do the bare minimum to be careful. The fact of the matter is we cannot escape germs, all we can do is our part to maintain good hygiene in hopes of killing off those pesky disease causing organisms.

Did you know that hospitals and doctor’s offices are often breeding grounds for germs?  Pretty Crazy isn’t it?  The one place we go to get better actually increases our risk of contracting a disease.  We aren’t telling you this to scare you, however we do bring this to your attention so we can educate you on how germs are spread, where they can be found and a few suggestions on how to prevent them from hanging around.

Back to the Top

What Are The Most Common Ways Germs Are Spread?

Although germs are tiny, itty bitty, microscopic organisms, they can be spread fairly easily from person to person.   Germs are most commonly spread through direct or indirect contact with your eyes, nose, mouth or genitals.  In most cases you came into contact with these germs through the touching of a contaminated surface by one or more of your body parts.  Whether it be through direct contact like shaking hands or giving someone a hug, or maybe indirect contact like touching a doorknob then rubbing your eyes, the transmission of germs from person to person is inevitable.

Back to the Top

Where do the germs like to hide?

The short answer is EVERYWHERE.  If you can touch it, see it or smell it… It has germs on it!!! Listed below are a few of the most common places germs can be found.

  1. Hands – Did you know that according to livescience.com that 95 percent of people fail to wash their hands long enough to kill harmful bacteria? According to a study conducted by Michigan State University only 2 in 3 people use soap when washing their hands after using the bathroom and 1 in 10 skip washing altogether.  Let that Sink in!!!
  2. Door Knobs/Elevator Buttons – These two high traffic areas are home to more bacteria than a toilet seat making them a breeding ground for potentially dangerous infections.
  3. Phones – Your cell phone may be the one thing you touch the most all day making this a perfect place for germs to call home.
  4. Toilets, Sinks & Soap Dispensers – Whether you are using the rest room at home or out in public by nature these three items will be covered in bacteria and other germs. Even if you wash them once a day it is unavoidable that by the end of the day they will be a germ infested playground.
  5. Bed Sheets – After a hard day’s work you climb into bed to get some rest, you want to guess what climbs into bed with you? You guessed it all of the germs you have come into contact with throughout the day.  It is recommended that you wash your sheets at least once a week if possible.
  6. Toys – No matter how hard you try to be parent of the year, your children will carry around more germs than you can account for. According to WebMD, Children are 2 to 3 times more likely than adults to get sick with the flu, often spreading it to others through contact with their toys.

Back to the Top

Stop the Spread of Germs

While coming into contact with germs is inevitable, there are a number of ways you can help stop them from spreading.  Listed below are several ways you can do your part to prevent the spreading of germs and bacteria.

  1. Avoid Contact with people who are sick – Limiting your contact to those people who are sick will help to cut down unnecessary exposure to germs.
  2. Cover your mouth when you cough and nose when you sneeze – If possible covering your mouth or nose with a tissue when sneezing and coughing will help to cut down the transfer of germs and bacteria. If a tissue is not available use your upper arm.
  3. WASH YOUR HANDS – Your hands may look clean, but they have germs on them can make you or someone else sick. Think about how many surfaces your hands come into contact with daily. Do you really think all of those surfaces are clean?  Knowing that many of the surfaces you come into contact with are covered in germs and bacteria you want to avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth as much as possible. Wash your hands thoroughly and often with soap for at least 20 – 30 seconds after any one of the following activities:
    1. After wiping or blowing your nose
    2. After using the restroom
    3. After touching handrails, doorknobs, telephones or elevator buttons
    4. After coming into contact with someone who is ill
    5. Before and after eating
  4. Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces
    1. Work Spaces
    2. Phones
    3. Doorknobs
    4. Toilets/Sinks
    5. Light Switches
    6. Exam Tables
    7. Medical Equipment
  5. STAY HOME WHEN YOU ARE SICK – Most people tend to try and push through when they are sick. Do us all a favor and stay home, except when seeking medical attention.  It is important both for your recovery time as well as the prevention of germ spreading that you stay home and get some rest when you feel that sniffle or flu coming on.

Back to the Top

What We Are Doing To Help

At Ferrell-Whited we have clinics all over Northeast Ohio and we understand just how important it is for our patients to get in for their physical therapy appointments.  We want to assure you that we make the cleanliness of our facilities a top priority.  We have implemented a mandatory disinfecting checklist that is completed before and after every patient that receives care in one of our facilities.  We take the health of our patients and staff very seriously.  You can breathe a sigh of relief that when you come into one of our facilities you will receive top notch care in a very clean and healthy environment.

With locations in Kent, Rootstown, Medina, Montrose, and Berea, we can serve all of your physical therapy needs. Do not wait, stop into one of our offices today to discuss your road to recovery.

Back to the Top