Germs hitch ride on fingertips; be prepared

Have you ever stopped to think about how many people touch the computer keys in the library and labs, or punch the buttons on the Automatic Teller Machine, or push the door handles before you? Have you ever thought about how many little germs they leave behind that hitch a ride on your fingers?

Look down on the keys and notice how much grime and grease has built up like little mountains. Before you flush that public toilet, think about the last place your hand was.

After sitting down to eat at fancy sit-down restaurants, look at the silverware and the china. They may not be as clean as you would expect. Automatic dishwashers don't clean and sanitize if they are overloaded or the water is not hot enough. Fast food restaurants use plastic utensils and paper plates; but where were that fork and paper plate or napkin before your food was placed on it?

Walking around inspecting computer keys and doorknobs before you touch them can be a waste of time. Inspecting the kitchen of the local hamburger joint to see if your throwaway fast food utensils and paper plates were stored on the floor or recycled is a good idea if you plan to make the restaurant your permanent dining room.

If you have the time, take a thermometer and test the water of the dishwater in the pricey restaurant. More than likely, the headwaiter won't let you in the kitchen.

Get a nice canvas bag and fill it with foil wrapped alcohol prep pads like the paramedics use, a small bottle of alcohol, a bottle of scented anti-bacterial hand wash that requires no towel drying, a roll of your own toilet paper and a few paper toilet seats. Add a package of baby-wipes, a tube of ointment for rashes and a package of disposable surgical gloves.

On the serious side, we must be aware of germs and the illness they may cause, and going overboard is a serious medical problem for some people. Washing your hands before dining and following the general rules of cleanliness is the sane solution.