FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM JULY 5, 2018 • HEALTH • THE QUEENS COURIER 43
health
Are you doing enough to stay protected against germs?
When it comes to avoiding germs, some
people take it to an extreme. Th ey are fastidious
about using a paper towel to avoid
touching the door in a public bathroom,
wipe down every square inch of an airplane
seat and can hardly go 15 minutes without
re-sanitizing their hands. Some habits, like
using your foot to fl ush the handle on a toilet,
or giving a fi st-bump instead of a handshake,
may make good sense. Th e fact is
there are good reasons to avoid germs and
embrace the habits of a germaphobe.
Take, for example, shaking hands. It
may seem harmless, but serious bacteria
such as staphylococcus (commonly
known as staph), E. coli and others easily
spread with simple hand-to-hand contact.
Whether at home, work or in a public
place, washing hands is considered one of
the most eff ective ways to prevent bacteria
and viruses from spreading, and consequently,
preventing illness or infection.
Unfortunately, according to a recent
survey commissioned by Hibiclens,
maker of the antibacterial soap originally
only used by surgeons and health professionals,
there’s no shortage of people
who don’t wash their hands. It’s likely
that at one point or another, despite your
best hygienic eff orts, you’ll come in contact
with someone who doesn’t properly
wash. According to the survey of 1,000
American adults:
• 56 percent don’t always wash their
hands aft er covering their mouth when
coughing. Serious respiratory illnesses
like infl uenza, whooping cough and
SARS are spread through coughing and
sneezing.
• Almost one in six people (18 percent)
don’t always wash their hands aft er
going to the bathroom. According to
the CDC, feces from people and animals
is a source of Salmonella, E. coli, and the
norovirus. One gram of human feces
can contain one trillion germs.
• Nearly half, 49 percent of people, don’t
always wash their hands aft er blowing
or picking their nose, a place where
staph is commonly found in nearly 50
percent of a given population, according
to the National Center of Biotechnology
Information.
One less thing to worry about
Th ese aren’t comforting statistics. And
they will probably make you think twice
about your co-workers, friends and those
strangers you meet at a conference or sit
next to on a bus or plane.
National Handshake Day, which falls
on June 28, might as well be renamed
national germ-spreading day!
However, the good news is that
Hibiclens, the same antibacterial soap
used for over 40 years in hospitals and
given to patients to reduce the chance of
infection before surgery and aft erwards to
continue to keep the incision site free of
germs that can cause infection, is now a
germ-fi ghting solution available to everyone.
Found in the fi rst aid aisle in your
favorite retailer, it is also the number
one pharmacist-recommended antibacterial
soap.
What makes Hibiclens unique is that
it has a clinically proven, persistent eff ect
to give up to 24 hours of active protection
that kills nearly 100 diff erent types of
germs, bacteria and viruses. It’s also proven
safe and eff ective and is gentle enough
for everyday use and even for parents to
use on their children.
In day-to-day terms, this means that
you’ll have one less thing to worry about.
Whether it’s shaking hands, traveling,
going to a conference, sending your children
back to school or college, riding
public transportation and everywhere
else, the proven 24-hour additional active
protection shields you like a pair of invisible
gloves while still washing your hands
as usual.
While you might not be able to get
everyone else to thoroughly wash their
hands, there are simple precautions you
can take to keep you and your family
protected from these germs. Washing
with Hibiclens gives you the peace of
mind that, even though others may not
be washing properly, you’ll have a solid,
proven defense against infections and
infection-carrying germs. Remember, the
fi ght against infection begins at home.
Courtesy BPT
CDC urges public to start the conversation about sepsis
Each year, at least 1.7 million Americans
develop sepsis, and nearly 270,000 die as
a result. While anyone can get an infection,
and almost any infection can lead to
sepsis, only 55% of Americans have heard
of sepsis.
Sepsis is the body’s extreme response
to an infection. It is life-threatening, and
without timely treatment, sepsis can rapidly
lead to tissue damage, organ failure,
and death. Sepsis happens when an
infection you already have - in your skin,
lungs, urinary tract, or somewhere else
- triggers a chain reaction throughout
your body.
Start the conversation about sepsis
today with your doctor or nurse using
these fi ve questions:
1. How can I protect myself from sepsis?
It’s important to know the signs and
symptoms of sepsis, and act fast if sepsis is
suspected. Signs and symptoms of sepsis
can include one or a combination of any
of the following: confusion or disorientation;
shortness of breath; high heart rate;
fever, or shivering, or feeling very cold;
extreme pain or discomfort; and clammy
or sweaty skin. An infection that’s not
getting better or is getting worse can lead
to sepsis. Get medical care immediately if
you suspect sepsis.
2. How can I prevent infections? Talk to
your doctor or nurse about steps you can
take to prevent infections that can lead to
sepsis. To prevent infections, take good
care of chronic conditions and get recommended
vaccines. Also, practice good
hygiene like washing your hands and keeping
cuts clean and covered until healed.
3. Who is at higher risk for developing
sepsis? Certain people are at higher risk,
including adults 65 or older; people with
chronic medical conditions, such as diabetes,
lung disease, cancer, and kidney
disease; people with weakened immune
systems; and children younger than one.
4. How do I know if my infection
could be leading to sepsis? If you or your
loved one suspects sepsis or has an infection
that’s not getting better or is getting
worse, ask your doctor or nurse,
“Could this infection be leading to sepsis?”
ACT FAST and get medical care
IMMEDIATELY.
5. How can sepsis be treated? A person
who develops sepsis should be treated
with antibiotic(s) as soon as possible, in
addition to other therapies that the doctor
or nurse decides are appropriate for
that patient, such as maintaining blood
fl ow to organs or receiving intravenous
(IV) fl uids. A doctor or nurse should also
check on the patient frequently and reassess
antibiotic therapy within 24-48 hours
to stop or adjust therapy as needed.
Remember, sepsis is a medical emergency.
Improved recognition and timely
treatment of sepsis increases your chances
of survival and decreases the likelihood
of long-term eff ects.
To learn more about sepsis and how
to prevent infections, visit www.cdc.gov/
sepsis. To learn more about antibiotic
prescribing and use, visit www.cdc.gov/
antibiotic-use.
Courtesy BPT
/
/
