The Germiest Things

Surprisingly, there are worse things your child will touch than the toilet seat.  Here are some of them, and you’ll want to thoroughly clean your kid’s hands after he comes in contact with them.

PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT – Kids always have the most fecal bacteria on their hands when they return from the playground.  In one study, 20% of playground equipment was infested with this contaminant.

SHOPPING CARTS – About 70% have fecal bacteria on them, largely because of kids sitting in those little seats that carts have.

HIGH CHAIRS – Out of 30 restaurant high chairs, 17% were contaminated with E. coli and 10% with methicillin-resistant staph.

RESTAURANT TABLES -”Cleaning” a table can actually make it dirtier.  In an analysis of 10 restaurants, tabletops have 45 times more bacteria, including E. coli on them after they had been wiped: towels used to sponge off tables are not always thoroughly washed.

ELEVATOR BUTTONS – The 1st floor button is always the germiest because everybody has to touch it to get out.

PHONES -  In homes with sick kids, 80% of phones were contaminated with the flu virus.

The Germiest Things

You might be surprised but there are worse things our children will touch than the toilet seat.  When they touch contaminated surfaces and put their hands in their mouth, it’s when they get infections and diarrhea.

Here’s a list of some of the germiest things our kids are most likely to touch that you want to make sure you clean their hands thoroughly after they come in contact with them.

SHOPPING CARTS.  We love to sit out little ones in those carts to keep our our hands free when shopping but based on studies, about 70 percent of grocery shopping  carts have fecal bacteria on them.

PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT.  Twenty percent of playground equipments are infested with fecal bacteria, so when our kids return from the playground, make sure to scrub their hands thoroughly.

HIGH CHAIRS.  Most restaurant high chairs are contaminated with E.coli and 10 percent with methicillin-resistant staph.  When my kids were younger, I always had wet ones ready.  Before having them sit anywhere I wipe the surface first with wet tissue.

RESTAURANT TABLES.  According to reports, tabletops had 45 times more bacteria on them after they had been wiped.  So, cleaning the table with a damp cloth actually makes it dirtier because the cloth they use are not always thoroughly clean.

Washing and sudsing with soap and water is still the most effective way to fight bacteria but if not available make sure you have an antibacterial hand sanitizer or hand wipes ready.

kissing the doggie

I used to fret whenever I see my kids kissing our dog.  I have explained to them for so many times that it’s not a wise thing to do even if I know that our dog is always well-groomed.  But I was surprised when I read that regular contact with animals causes their immune system to produce new antibodies that protect against chronic health hassles.  Studies have shown that children who get early exposure to pet dander and saliva are less likely to develop asthma and eczema by up to 61 percent. I know that germs and bacteria is important in building their immune system but I never expected that it could also come from pets.

Hurry up and leave!

Did you know that when you flush a public toilet, it has enough force to spray water droplets 20 feet in the air?  And those droplets are carrying germs from the bowl!  Don’t stand too close when you flush because bacteria like E.coli can rain on you.  Some studies indicate that it is possible to inhale and swallow the bacteria, which can be more dangerous.  Your best line of defense is to get dressed first, stand farther from the toilet bowl, flush and quickly make your exit.  According to the article, the greatest droplet dispossal occurs when most of the water has rushed from the bowl, so you only have about 3 seconds to get out of the cubicle safely.