How to Stay Germ-Free While Working or Playing Outside

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Summer’s heating up and the great outdoors beckon your name. In Texas here, we’re blessed with an extra-long warm season the northern states don’t have.

And that comes with some risks. One of those is that you’re outside more, which means more exposure to germs that can cause illness.

Take a look at some ways you can minimize your exposure to germs and prevent more illness from ever happening in the first place:

  1. Avoid These Places Where Germs Like to Frequent

Going out to get dinner at the drive-thru? Watch the attendant that hands you your food. Did they touch the top of your cup as they did? If so, they might as well have put their hand in your mouth.

Other danger areas include the gas pump, ATM, bank, and shopping carts at stores.

  1. Be Careful When You Exercise

Following moderate to intense exercise, your body is severely distressed for about 72 hours. During this time, your body is much more susceptible to getting sick. This comes from MD Scott Weiss, who’s treated many professional athletes.

Research indicates you should engage in easy to moderate exercise, which boosts your immune system instead of reducing its effectiveness.

  1. Be Careful Around Your Sick Children

Your kids might get sick. And of course you know you should minimize contact with them. However, you can give yourself an additional layer of protection by avoiding big inhalations when you’re near them as they sneeze.

Simply hold your breath for 10-15 seconds, or walk away and breathe.

  1. Wear Gloves and Wash Them

Bacteria can easily survive on gloves a day or so. You definitely get temporary insulation. However, you can maximize your protection by removing your gloves without touching them with your hand.

Make sure you also wash your gloves at the end of the day when you’re done with them.

  1. Avoid Touching Surfaces Everyone Touches

Have you ever shook hands with 10,000 people at once? That’s what you do when you touch a handrail, bathroom door handle, or door knob to enter a store.

Avoid touching those surfaces. Walk through automatic doors. Wear gloves.

  1. Use Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizer

They’re just about as effective as soap and water. But they’re easier on your skin than handwashing.

Don’t go overboard with your hand sanitizing though. You can actually scrub away your hands’ natural ability to fight off enemy bacteria.

Can you prevent yourself from getting sick ever again? No. But you can greatly reduce your chances by following these tips.