We are constantly exposed to microorganisms, both good and bad. Most microorganisms we come into contact with during our daily lives are harmless. Some even help keep us healthy. But certain microorganisms-when in the wrong place- can pose real health hazards. We call these harmful microorganisms "germs."

Some exposure to germs can help build up our immune systems, helping us to fight infections and stay healthy. Exposure to others, however, can cause food poisoning, sickness and diarrhea so it makes sense to practice the good hygiene and cleanliness that will prevent these problems.

Examples of micro-organisms
Bacteria:	Salmonella bacteria can cause food poisoning.
Viruses:	Rhinoviruses can cause colds. Herpes simplex causes cold sores. Influenza can cause the Flu.
Fungi:	Trichophyton can cause Athlete's foot.
Parasites:	Giardia can cause diarrhoea.

Where Are Germs Found?
Key Fact:
The main sources of germs in our homes are people, pets, and food. Germs live all around us-in soil, air, water, food, animals, plants and people. Germs and dirt can be found throughout the home. Whether it is the dog or the kids running through the house; or cooking up dinner for your family who can't sit down for 5 minutes - there's mud and grime, food stains and grease as well as illness-causing germs like bacteria such as Salmonella and Escherichia coli.

Practice healthy habits to stop getting germs or spreading germs at home, school, or work. Simple actions, like covering your mouth and nose and washing your hands often, can stop germs and prevent illnesses and reduce sick days. Keep common surfaces such as countertops, doorknobs, and telephones sanitized with disinfectants such as LYSOL® Disinfecting Wipes.

Bacteria can grow and divide every 20 minutes. One single bacteria cell can become more than 8 million cells in less than 24 hours.

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By understanding when and where there is potential for germs to spread, we can take steps to help avoid infection. To cause disease, germs need to get inside the body. Since germs do not jump or walk, they have to be transported into the body by other means:

• Inhalation of small particles, dust and water droplets into the respiratory tract via the nose and mouth. Influenza, measles, and TB are transmitted this way.
• Ingestion of contaminated food and water. Salmonella is transmitted this way.
• Inoculation via injury, injection, bites and wounds to the skin and mucous membranes. hepatitis B, STAPH, and tetanus are transmitted this way.
• Sexual contact between partners. Gonorrhea, herpes simplex type 2 and HIV are transmitted this way.

Key Fact:
Washing hands is the key to significantly reducing the spread of germs. Because our hands touch many surfaces in the course of a day, they are prime vehicles for transferring germs to our nose, mouth and eyes—or to other surfaces where they can find their way into another person. That's why it's so important to wash our hands thoroughly and frequently.

Who Is Most at Risk?
In most healthy people, infections are short-lived when they are treated properly. However, in individuals whose immune systems are vulnerable, infections can have severe consequences. These susceptible people include:

• The very young—Babies and children under the age of five are more susceptible because their immune systems are still developing.
• The elderly—Our immune system deteriorates with age.
• The ill—Disease weakens our immune system further.

Washing—Often you can remove sufficient germs from an item using detergent and hot water-but you must wipe or scrub the item to loosen the dirt and germs, then rinse thoroughly under running water. This method is suitable for decontaminating items such as pots and pans, cutlery and your hands.

Heating—Cooking food thoroughly will reduce the number of germs in food to a level that is safe to eat. Generally, the higher the temperature reached, the more germs are killed.

Disinfecting— Disinfectant cleaners are ideal for killing germs on surfaces throughout the home such as kitchen counters, sinks, toilets and bathroom tile. Use LYSOL® Disinfectant Sprays to also eliminate germs and odors on hard nonporous surfaces that you come into contact with every day such as doorknobs, toilet areas, and telephones.

Drying—Germs cannot live long on a clean, dry surface but they love moisture. Remember that re-using damp dirty items such as cleaning cloths, towels and mops can easily spread germs around your home.

Always remember to

• Follow the manufacturer's instructions for using cleaning products.
• Store cleaning products and other chemicals safely out of reach of children.
• Get all members of your family involved in establishing a regular cleaning routine for your home.

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Simple hand washing is one of the most effective ways to stop the spread of germs—whether you are at home or out and about. Every time we touch something or someone, we can transfer germs to and from our hands. After that, it's easy for germs to pass into our bodies when we touch our mouth, eyes or nose. Washing removes most germs from our hands.

Key Fact:
Teaching children about the importance of handwashing is great way to help keep your family healthy. Download and print this kid-friendly poster that playfully illustrates the "Why", "When", and "How" of handwashing.
If we remember to wash our hands at certain important times during the day, we can substantially reduce our chances of becoming ill:

• Before eating or preparing food
• Immediately after handling raw foods, such as poultry
• After visiting the toilet or changing a diaper
• After contact with blood or body fluids (e.g., vomit, nasal secretions, saliva)
• After touching animals or their toys and leashes
• After touching a contaminated area (e.g., trash can, cleaning cloth, drain, soil)
• Before dressing a wound, giving medicines, or inserting contact lenses
• Whenever hands look dirty

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Key Fact:
Foul-smelling body odor (occurs when stale sweat is allowed to remain on your skin and in your clothing.) Bacterial skin infections, conjunctivitis and fungal infections are all associated with poor personal hygiene. Keeping your body clean reduces the risk of cross-infection and self-infection, and prevents other problems such as body odor, tooth decay and bad breath. Here are some basic hygiene procedures to follow daily:

Bathing

• Wash your whole body with soap and water every day. Dry your skin well to help prevent fungal infections, and soreness and chapping that could become infected with bacteria if scratched.

• Change underwear, socks and hosiery daily.
• Regularly change and launder clothes.
• Regularly change and launder towels, face cloths and bed linen.

• Brush your teeth twice a day, including just before you go to bed.
• Wash and comb/brush your hair regularly.
• Keep nails short and clean.
• Use tissues to wipe your nose and to cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.
• Dispose of tissues and other items soiled with blood or body fluids (e.g. bandages) carefully.
• Don't share personal items such as toothbrushes, razors or cosmetics.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.

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Raw meat and poultry, eggs, fish and unwashed fruit and vegetables can all carry germs. Thoroughly cooking food and performing scrupulous kitchen clean-up are the primary ways to prevent food poisoning.

Key Fact:
Bacteria can multiply quickly in moist environments, such as in food left to stand at room temperature or in damp cleaning cloths. Always wash your hands before preparing food and immediately after handling raw foods (especially poultry). Use a clean dry hand towel—or, preferably, a disposable paper towel—to dry your hands. Make sure kitchen work surfaces are thoroughly cleaned immediately before use (use a disinfectant such as LYSOL® Disinfecting Wipes or LYSOL® Disinfectant Sprays).

Disinfect surfaces that you touch with your hands, such as door and cupboard handles, faucets and the trash can. It's important to clean and disinfect inside the fridge, microwave, cupboards, and other surfaces that come into frequent contact with food. Use a trash can with a lid to prevent access by pets and pests—empty, clean and disinfect it often.

• Wash salads, fruits and vegetables thoroughly in clean water to remove all traces of soil, insects or pesticides.
• Avoid contact between raw and ready to eat foods. Use separate cutting boards.
• Cook food thoroughly and evenly (particularly meat).
• Eat cooked food immediately or cool and refrigerate it within one hour. Never reheat food more than once.
• Don't let pets on or near food preparation surfaces.
• Don't refreeze food that has defrosted.
• Check use by dates on food and discard any food that has expired or has obviously spoiled.
• Keep your refrigerator at or below 37°F. This will help slow down the growth of germs in your chilled food.
• Keep freezers at or below 0°F. Germs cannot multiply in frozen food.

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It should come as no surprise that toilets are very likely to contain germs. The good news, however, is that the risk of germs spreading from the toilet bowl is usually low, provided we avoid touching it or splashing during use or flushing. The greatest risk of infection in the bathroom comes from surfaces that are frequently touched by the hands—toilet flush handle, toilet seat, faucets and door handles. You should regularly clean and disinfect these surfaces. Disposable cleaning cloths or wipes are easy and hygienic.

• Clean and disinfect the toilet bowl as often as necessary to prevent the build-up of dirt and scum that can harbor germs and cause nasty odors. If you use a toilet brush, make sure it is stored clean and dry after use.
• Clean up spills immediately. Disinfect these surfaces. Disposable cleaning cloths or LYSOL® Disinfecting Wipes are quick and easy to use.
• Rinse baths, sinks and showers after each use and clean them regularly with a suitable product to remove all the lime scale and soap scum that can harbor germs.
• Clean shower curtains with a suitable disinfectant or launder them according to the manufacturer's instructions.
• Germs can grow in showerheads. If you haven't used yours for a while, let it run on full power on a hot setting for a minute or two to flush any germs away before using.
• Store personal items, such as toothbrushes, where germs are unlikely to splash onto them. Rinse them after each use and store them dry. Never share personal items.
• Launder and replace towels frequently.
• Keep the bathroom clean and well ventilated to prevent the growth of molds.
• Wash your hands thoroughly after using the toilet and after cleaning the bathroom.

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Floors and furniture generally present a low risk of germ transmission. However, vacuuming carpets and soft furnishings does pick up dust, dust mites, and other debris. Cleaning hard surface floorings with an appropriate detergent and water also removes dust, dirt and visible mold growth. You should only have to disinfect these surfaces if they have become contaminated by body fluids. In bathrooms and kitchens (where spills often occur), hard surface floorings are easier to keep clean and don't accumulate dirt the way carpets do.

• Use disposable paper towels to remove spills of body fluids, then clean and disinfect the surface.
• If you use a mop and bucket, disinfect them after each use and store them dry with the head upwards.
• Damp dust hard surface furniture to minimize dust and dirt.
• To prevent the growth of molds and fungi, clean and disinfect tiled walls and other hard surfaces where moisture is likely to collect.
• Do not use bleach products on carpets, wooden surfaces or in confined unventilated areas.
• Remember to wash your hands after cleaning.

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Key Fact:
Getting your pets immunized and treated for fleas, ticks and intestinal worms can reduce the risk of infection to your family. Just like humans, pets carry germs in and on their bodies. Unlike us, however, pets pay little regard to where they deposit their germs. So having a pet at home does pose additional infection risks. One of the most important ways you can reduce this risk is by making sure your pets are fully immunized and regularly treated for fleas, ticks, intestinal worms, and other parasites. Check with your vet for the treatments and immunizations your pet needs.

• Check your pet regularly for signs of ill health and keep claws trimmed to reduce the risk of scratches. If your pet becomes ill, take it to a vet immediately.
• Wash your hands after touching animals or associated toys, leashes, blankets, bedding, etc.
• Make sure pets have their own feeding dishes and utensils that you clean separately from other household items. Disinfect them regularly and rinse them thoroughly before re-use.
• Immediately clean and disinfect any surface contaminated with animal excretions.
• Never allow pets onto food preparation surfaces.
• Regularly clean and disinfect floors and feeding areas used by pets.
• Don't clean pet cages and tanks in your kitchen sink. Use a bucket if necessary.
• Do not let your pet share your plate or lick your face.

• Keep your home clean and free of trash. This will limit its attraction to pests who are looking for food and bedding materials.
• Keep food securely covered and remove any trash promptly.
• Keep trash in a securely covered bin.
• Block any potential entry points to your home (e.g., use drain covers).
• Always follow the manufacturer's advice for pest control products or devices.
• Make sure that children and pets cannot reach baits, poisons or traps.
• Clean and disinfect any food preparation surfaces in an infested or treated area before use.

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