With reports of new outbreaks of Avian Flu, this might be useful information (actually it is anyway). The 11 most common places that people are likely to pick up germs and viruses [h/t Jack] are listed here.
- Handrails. I try not to use them, but nowadays I walk down stairs with my hand poised over the rail just as a precaution.
- Elevator buttons. I use a knuckle instead of a fingertip.
- Grocery cart handles.
- Restaurant menus.
- Money from cash registers (I once had a minor bout of something resulting from handling money in a foreign country and not washing my hands right afterward).
- Light switches. Again I use knuckles or arms whenever possible in public places.
- Salt and pepper shakers in restaurants.
- Salad bars. These places are scary, even with sneeze shields. I expect buffets in general can pose problems.
- ATMs. Maybe I'll start with the knuckles here, too, if possible.
- Exercise equipment. No worries there! ;-)
- Water fountain handles. I love the ones with a press bar.
The article concludes with this fairly sensible advice:
Makes you nervous, doesn't it? Relax. It takes just a little common sense and attention to protect yourself from public germs. Here are ways to keep germs at bay:
Handwashing. Always wash your hands before cooking, eating, or inserting your contact lenses. Wash your hands after cooking, using the toilet, petting an animal, handling garbage, blowing your nose, or coughing or sneezing into your hand. It doesn't matter if you wash with regular or antibacterial soap as long as you do a thorough job.
Use hand sanitizer. Alcohol-based sanitizers that require no water are among the greatest health inventions of recent times. They're efficient at killing germs, whenever and wherever you encounter them, without the need of water or towels.
Keep hands away from your face. No matter how many times you wash them, if you are in public, your hands will pick up germs. Germs will quickly enter your body if you rub your eyes or nose, stroke your chin, or touch your lips. [EE: This is a tough one for me]
Avoid the communal candy bowl or cookie jar. Given that only 67 percent of people who say they wash their hands actually do, and that only a third of those people use soap, you can imagine what's lurking in there.