PHOTO PROVIDED Heather Stafford, left, director of infection prevention and control at UPMC Susquehanna, instructs a nurse on proper hand washing techniques to prevent the spread of germs.

Trying to avoid the many germs that lead to colds, influenza and other health problems may seem like navigating a minefield, especially during the winter months.

But protection against germ warfare to stay healthy is not so much a battle as much as it is a common-sense approach.

Germs are spread mostly through hands and what a person touches, said Heather Stafford, director of infection prevention and control at UPMC Susquehanna.

And each day, most people come into contact with objects both in public places and the household on which the germs are waiting, she noted.

Door handles, elevator buttons, hand railings, phones, computers and, of course, the TV remote control, are some of the most commonly touched objects where people can encounter germs that get passed from person to person.

Cellphones carry all sorts of bacteria, Stafford said. You are touching it all the time.

Sneezing and coughing can result in the expulsion of droplets containing germs, and viruses and bacteria survive on many objects people come in contact with every day, she said.

Some viruses can live 14 days on an inanimate object, she said.

Its best to avoid placing hands, which may have come in contact with germs, on the face and mouth.

Proper handwashing has been universally accepted, Stafford noted, as one of the best means of protecting oneself against germs as well as preventing the spread of them.

But it must be done properly to be effective.

Ideally, hands should be washed with soap and in warm water for a least 15 seconds. Unfortunately, many people simply lack the patience to adequately clean their hands.

Alcohol-based disinfectants are a good option for cleaning hands, especially after one has been in public places. Many dispensers can be found outside grocery stores and other heavy-traffic sites.

For your house, its really key to keep wipes handy. Wipe your kitchen counters and your remote. Spray with a disinfect, she said.

Alcohol-based wipes or hydrogen peroxide applied to a cloth are effective for eliminating germs on surfaces, Stafford added.

She noted UPMC Susquehanna is seeing more flu in the immediate area than last year, and quite a few cases in the past few weeks.

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We're 'in touch' every day with things that can make us sick - Williamsport Sun-Gazette