Beware germs are everywhere

By Hannah Strasser

Ordinary objects on campus may appear to be harmless but could be harboring harmful bacteria that students are unknowingly spreading from student to student.

Do you wash your hands every time you sneeze, use a keyboard, touch a doorknob or shake hands? Do you say no to sharing a drink or snack with someone, even a friend? Most people say no to one or more of these actions. However, the problem lies in not completing these very things on an every day basis.

For students, it’s hard to stop every time we come in contact with germs. Blake Thorne, a sophomore at Missouri Western, admits that while he does try to exercise good hygiene, he could easily do more to protect himself against germs.

“I could wash my hands more but that would require leaving class,” Thorne said.
Many students admit that it’s just inconvenient to practice a lot of the good hygiene rules while also going through a busy day of college.
It is important to wash hands with hot water and lather them thoroughly with soap. Slowly count to thirty to completely clean hands of germs.

Campus health officials are working to make our lives more germ-free. Passing out free hand sanitizers to all students is just one of the steps they’ve taken this year to help influence students to take care of themselves and prevent diseases.

Besides using hand sanitizer after touching keyboards and door knobs, there are plenty of ways to prevent diseases and germs in your life. For example, steer clear of touching public toilet stools and make sure to wash your hands thoroughly even if you’ve used hand sanitizer numerous times.

Another easy way to fend off the flu during flu season is to eat as healthy as possible and drink enough water. Making sure your body obtains plenty of vitamins and minerals will help it fend off germs naturally and keep you energetic. Josh Holaday, Missouri Western senior, said your diet has a lot to do with warding of sickness.

“Taking vitamin C helps your immune system and helps to prevent illness,” Holaday said.

Other than preventing germs in your own life, there are ways you can work to stop spreading more germs. This year, teachers are working harder with students to help them make up work so that students can stay home when they’re sick. Cough in your sleeve, carry your own tissues with you so you always have them handy and don’t share food with others even if you don’t feel sick at the moment.

Kari Teschner, a nursing student at Missouri Western, shared some of the knowledge she’s acquired in nursing classes so far.

“I know everybody does it, but after learning how many bacteria are spread when you share food and drinks with your friend, I definitely won’t do it anymore.” Teschner said. “I’ve always been somewhat of a germ freak, but now that we’re learning more in class about MRSA (staph infection) and the swine flu, I’ve become even stricter about taking care of myself and trying to stay away from these two things.”

The flu season has spread so much it feels like there’s never a time when we are not in the middle of a flu season scare. But we can easily protect ourselves from obtaining germs and decrease the risk of spreading more germs and diseases to others.