Infection Control: Easy Ways to Protect Yourself and Others
Infections can pop up when you least expect them, but controlling their spread isn’t as complicated as it sounds. Whether at home, work, or out and about, simple habits make a huge difference. Want to avoid getting sick or passing germs to others? It starts with everyday actions you can take right now.
First things first, wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. This simple step kills most germs you pick up from surfaces or people. Don't have soap and water nearby? Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer instead. And remember to avoid touching your face—that's a quick way germs find a way in.
Keep Your Environment Clean
Regularly wipe down surfaces you and others touch a lot, like door handles, phone screens, and keyboards. Using disinfectant wipes or sprays can cut down the risk of germs lurking where you don’t expect them. At home, clean shared items often, especially if someone is feeling unwell.
Practice Cough and Sneeze Etiquette
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your elbow when you cough or sneeze. Toss used tissues in the trash immediately and wash your hands. This helps stop germs from spreading through the air or landing on surfaces where others might pick them up.
Being mindful of your health and others around you means also staying home if you’re sick. Rest up, hydrate, and avoid close contact until you recover. This reduces the chance of passing infections along to coworkers, friends, or family.
Vaccinations play a key role in infection control too. Staying up to date on shots like the flu vaccine or others recommended by your doctor builds your defenses against certain illnesses before they have a chance to take hold.
Small daily actions add up to big protection. When you’re proactive about infection control, you don’t just keep yourself healthy—you help stop the spread, keeping your community safer too. So, get into the habit of these practical tips today and keep infections at bay without turning your life upside down.
