Low Tech Means to Protect Yourself From Flu

A person with the flu will sneeze/cough on their hands. They don't wash after the sneeze/cough and then shake another person's hand. That uninfected person does not wash their hands either and then infects themselves by touching their face/nose with their virus contaminated hands. If the dose of virus is high enough in 7-10 days they become ill with the flu. A recent survey indicates that North Americans are poor at washing their hands. When asked in a recent telephone survey (2005) the following stated they washed their hands in the following situations.

• 91% said they washed their hands after using a public restroom.
• 83% said they washed after using the bathroom at home.
• 77% said they washed before handling or eating food.
• 73% said they washed after changing a dirty diaper.
• 42% said they washed after petting a dog or cat.
• 21% said they washed after handling money.
• 32% said they washed after coughing and sneezing.

What people say and what they do are often two different things. So these researchers decided to look at one of the behaviors listed above. They went into public restrooms and did various things normally done in a public restroom (apply makeup, comb hair, wash hands, etc.). While they did this they mentally recorded how many people actually did wash their hands after using the public restroom. What they found was that only 83% of people washed their hands after using the restroom. In this case what people said over the telephone (91%) and what they did (83%) was quite different.

Women were better at this behavior than men. Around 90% of women but only 75% of men washed their hands after using the restroom. Unfortunately, there are people all around you not washing their hands after exposing their hands to nasty stuff.

How can you protect yourself this flu season. One really good way is to get your flu shot. The bird flu virus does not yet go from person-to-person. It only infects people who handle infected birds (ducks, chickens, etc.). However, there are influenza viruses that right now are passed from person-to-person that the flu shot can prevent you from getting. Get your flu shot.

A second way to protect yourself from getting the flu is to wash your hands. If someone ill shakes your hand make sure you do not touch your face until after you wash. If you can't wash your hands then

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