Avoiding germs?

[Jarmo]

When I worked at a grocery store in high school, my manager told me if you drink enough alcohol no germs will want to live inside you.

However, I would not recommend this method for children under 10.

 

[nilla]

I know it sounds silly, but never underestimate the power of a positive mental attitude. It used to be that I'd get sick every time my wife and I had a big argument. Not letting stress and worry get to you works wonders in terms of health.

Adequate sleep is also extremely important. The last time I was sick was a stomach bug I had in May of 2014, and I haven't had a cold in almost two years. That said, some of my personal hygiene habits would make most people here nauseous. I think sometimes that being a germophobe does more harm than good.

 

[hsmamato2]

IDK....everyone has their own 'thing'.... We wash our hands well after bathrooms, and before eating,and if we can't wash before eating we use some purell alcohol gel to get rid of most germs we might have picked up touching everything, but that's what we do at home too,so nothing different. we also either wash/or purell before touching our face,like rubbing eyes,etc if we're out and about,since that's a good way to catch something.(obviously let the purell dry well before touching eyes lol) when my kids were small i would wipe down the airplane trays,since they tended to eat there-

 

[hsmamato2]

I don't think Airborne is harmful....so why not try it if it makes you happy? since the average american diet is severely lacking in many nutrients it can only help a person to stay well.... and being on vacation usually makes people eat worse foods

 

[ShayBells]

I don't think Airborne is harmful....so why not try it if it makes you happy? since the average american diet is severely lacking in many nutrients it can only help a person to stay well.... and being on vacation usually makes people eat worse foods

I was thinking about trying it but I have a lot of problems with a weak stomach and horrible acid reflux and I don't want to chance it if it has made other people nauseous.

I am liking all these tips though and I already bought a couple of those purell things that hook on to bags so we can always have one on us. I know too much is a bad thing but I figure it can't hurt for a week of vacation. And I have Clorox wipes on my list which I'm mostly worried about the plane especially with DS using the tray. Wanted to say thanks again to everyone for your answers and tips.

 

[rtilner]

Don't be paranoid. Are you Howie Mandell? If a germ is going to find you. You can't hide.

 

[hsmamato2]

for you science types here....isn't there a big difference between a topical swipe of alcohol (purell) which kills most surface germs, and antibacterial stuff that wipes out harmful and healthful bacteria,etc? I don't ever use antibacterial products, but a swipe of alcohol when needed doesn't wipe out colonies of beneficial stuff....right?

 

[cornflkgrl]

My routine for travel:
Clorox hand spray for hands (peroxide-based sanitizer) supposedly kills norovirus vs alcohol based
I also carry hibiclens for end of the day hand scrubbing
Probiotics every day
Remove comforter if there is one at my hotel
Wipe down phones, remotes, door knobs, and other places with disinfectant (preferably something with hydrogen peroxide) at hotel upon arrival
Wipe down quick service tables before eating on them because you never know who just set their purse on the bathroom floor then walked into the restaurant to eat and threw it down on the table (or diaper bag or backpack, etc)
And, of course, hand washing or sanitizer (hand spray) after restroom, kleenex, touching rails
Don't swim with babies
Don't put my head under the water at public pools
NO hot tubs

I AM a germophobe plus I take immunosuppressive meds.

 

[Interpol]

for you science types here....isn't there a big difference between a topical swipe of alcohol (purell) which kills most surface germs, and antibacterial stuff that wipes out harmful and healthful bacteria,etc? I don't ever use antibacterial products, but a swipe of alcohol when needed doesn't wipe out colonies of beneficial stuff....right?

No, alcohol pretty much kills 99.99% of bacteria it contacts. It doesn't discriminate.

We are starting to see strains of bacteria that are actually resistant to alcohol in surgical scrubs and hand sanitizers, but that doesn't mean you should stop washing your hands.

 

[chicagogrl]

My husband travelled a ton and I am sure he never wiped the tray etc. he never got sick. I tend to be the one who cleans stuff on the plane, always using my hand gel and is always wiping down everything at home. I am usually the one who gets sick!!

But I do have the hand gel, wipes, chlorox wipes at Disney or on vacations .

 

[kandb]

But - everyone is around germs all day long. I'm sitting here by myself in my house and there are germs all around me. My cat sneezed a few minutes ago - more germs. There is a fly in the house so more germs. I bought a package of cookies at Wal Mart this morning and who knows how many people touched that small package before I did? So, more germs. Oh - and the cashier touched it so more germs. I will touch my husband tonight once he gets home from golfing so more germs there.

The thing is - no one can live without having germs on their body. You would have to live inside a bubble and never touch anything. So, if you feel the need to wash your hands or whatever with whatever products you want, then do it. Personally, I just get up, live my life and don't fret about it. The last time I had a serious cold or flu? About 20 years ago.

Yes, everyone is around germs but people who work with children are definitely more likely to catch viruses. I remember our pediatrician saying children/adults get sick from other children. There immune systems are still not built up, so therefore carry germs more often.

 

[kandb]

I love when people say "oh germs are everywhere, don't worry about them". Well, I am going to worry about them after I spent around $6K for a week at Disney and from many threads I have read on the Dis and a few families I know personally that have gotten ill while at Disney, it makes ALOT of sense to try to avoid germs so your fun, expensive vacation is not ruined.

 

[Interpol]

I love when people say "oh germs are everywhere, don't worry about them". Well, I am going to worry about them after I spent around $6K for a week at Disney and from many threads I have read on the Dis and a few families I know personally that have gotten ill while at Disney, it makes ALOT of sense to try to avoid germs so your fun, expensive vacation is not ruined.

Absolutely right. It doesn't mean you need to walk around wearing a mask and disinfecting everything in sight, unless you want to. Simple, common sense actions like washing your hands regularly is all it takes.

Additionally, there is no clinical evidence that shows that vitamins, dietary supplements, homeopathic remedies, etc. do anything to prevent catching a cold or reducing its duration/intensity. Don't waste your money.

 

[jemlover]

Since I started taking vitamin D3 (due to a deficiency) and a good probiotic daily I have been getting sick much less often. I don't really do anything else other than normal handwashing while at WDW.

 

[YawningDodo]

I don't think Airborne is harmful....so why not try it if it makes you happy?

Because it costs $10/package.

 

[DisneyOma]

I believe the best way to prevent getting sick on vacation is to take care of your health way before the trip. Exercise, eat healthy, have good sleeping habits, and hydrate.

At the parks, wash your hands before eating and keep your hands away from your face. Any chemical that kills germs doesn't necessarily get all of them - and the ones left behind are the stronger ones. Now you've got the stronger ones breeding without any competition, on your hands or whatever surface you wiped off.

 

[Jarmo]

You can take all the precautions you want, but maybe you get stuck on a packed bus in the middle of an uncharacteristically cold January, and maybe you get stuck standing in front of a mother holding her sick toddler out like a biological weapon, and maybe that toddler ends up hacking and coughing in your face for 10 minutes while the mother doesn't even attempt to cover his mouth, and then maybe you get sick the rest of the trip and probably hate that woman until this day (you might also choose to hate the toddler depending on how much empathy you have for kids).

Here ends the story of how I decided to start renting a car at Disney World.

 

[SA mom]

Dang. Licking the ground at Disney is my favorite thing to do.

Just don't lick the peanuts in the concrete.

 

[cornflkgrl]

I still contend that a crowded pool is one of the most likely culprits on a vacation for causing illness. You might think it was something you ate or touching the hand rails after somebody with poor hygiene. But with all the rain Florida gets, it can get very difficult, I imagine, to regulate the chlorine levels in those pools. Cryptosporidium (or any other "bug" that can be spread through water) is nasty. Add a few hundred kids who may or may not wipe efficiently yet or who are wearing diapers (yes, "swim diapers" whatever! diapers) and you are basically swimming in bacterial/parasite soup.

Just something to keep in mind. If swimming isn't SUPER important to you. Unfortunately, my kids LOVE to swim.. UGH. Bleh.

 

[sfbank]

Right there with you. Swimming pools and hot tubs disgust me. Yes there may be enough chlorine to kill germs but there is not enough in the world put into a pool to make me comfortable, especially after hearing about people ringing out swim diapers into the pools.
I also have eaten with only plastic silverware and cups for about 6 years now. This is at restaurants and at home. If someone else has eaten with it or drank out of it, I will not. Everyone has their thing. I also agree with people that say no buffets.