Years ago, when I visted London, the public washroom had that very statement printed on each sheet of TP. This morning, as I awoke with the sniffles and a crummy heache, I realized that such a simple thing as washing your hands goes a long way towards keeping us all healthy.
We've just started fall and folks in my office are coming down with "it" whatever "it" is. Why now? Well, kids are back in school. They meet up with other kids who are sick. They transmit it to each other, then bring it home. Their parents go to work and spread it around there. Or, like me, you go to a dinner given by your biggest vendor as a thank you. And when everyone meets, it's kissy-huggy-shaking hands time.
Germs, germs, germs.
Later, after the dinner, I found out that folks at their place were getting sick all last week, some this week. We saw them Thursday, and now I'm the third one in my office to feel lousy. Can't really blame them though. See the problem is, you're contagious often before you even feel lousy. Even those of us without kids end up being infected.
With all the talk about the bird flu, a possible pandemic in the making, it is vitally important that we remember the basics of keeping healthy over the winter flu season months. And if you are like me, and you have an older parent living with you, it is super, super important
Solution? Don't get too close to folks, especially the elderly, and, yes, WASH YOUR HANDS!
You should also tell your kids, if you have 'em, to do the same. Make them aware of how germs are spread. Keep wipes with you when you might not be able to find a sink and soap.
If you work in an office (and this is good for home too) keep some Lysol around and spray the common phones. If someone in your office is ill, recommend they do the same to their phone.
Beyond that, take some extra Vitamin C, drink lots of fluids and get your 8 hours of shut-eye.
Look, I'm not advocating overuse of anti-bacterial chems, just some good common sense. And while it may seem like a no-brainer, we often forget these things until it's too late (achoo! - like me!). We don't really know what strain of flu will be around this year, it's always speculation. But if the bird flu rears it's ugly head (beak?) we're gonna be in big, big trouble.
So be good to your self, your friends and your family and be extra alert. If you have elderly in your family, be extra careful exposing them to any germs floating around your family. It could svae their lives.
And if anyone gets snarky about your hounding them about washing up, just tell them it's 'cause you love them.
And now...
GO WASH YOUR HANDS.
Thanks!