Preventing MRSA and Staying Healthy

Oct. 9, 2008 - PRLog -- Preventing MRSA

Personally I get very nervous when I think about MRSA because like most bacteria I feel like it can be hard to avoid. In big cities especially, it’s almost impossible not to bump in to someone, or touch a hand railing, or sit in a subway seat, or even use a public bathroom (even though most of us avoid that as much as possible). And because MRSA is usually spread through skin to skin contact, or by touching something that has already been contaminated by an infected individual, all of these scenarios that I have listed can become very scary.

When I first began hearing about MRSA years ago, I really became paranoid, I was literally washing my hands every 10 minutes and avoiding places where a lot of people would be. Fortunately, I have learned enough about MRSA now, where I feel comfortable enough to just follow some pretty simple procedures in order to keep myself and the people around me healthy. Here are some effective ways to prevent MRSA infections:

Wash your hands thoroughly. According to WebMD, experts suggest that you use an alcohol based hand sanitizer and wash long enough to where you can recite the entire alphabet.

Cover cuts and scrapes with clean bandages, meaning you should change your bandages frequently throughout the day (morning, night). This will help the wound to heal, and it will also prevent you from spreading any bacteria to the people around you.

Do NOT touch another individuals wound or bandage.

Do NOT share personal items like towels or razors. If you use a gym, wipe down the equipment with an alcohol based sanitizer before you use it. Dry towels and clothes in a dryer, rather than air drying them, this will help kill bacteria.

Many adults will find that this information is self explanatory, and perhaps it might be. However, it’s very important that you share this information with your children and small siblings. I know that when I was a little kid I found scrapes and cuts to be “awesome”… and I wouldn’t put it past any child to want to poke at there friends’ “boo boos”. Remind your kids to wash their hands often and make sure they know to sing their full ABC’s while they do it.  You can also recommend your child’s teacher to use an anti bacteria in the classroom to wipe down play areas and desks. Vital Oxide is an excellent one to use in classrooms and offices, and it has been proven to eliminate MRSA bacteria.

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