‘Tis the season for extra days off work, more time to spend with family and friends, parties and get-togethers to celebrate the holidays. Yes, it’s the most wonderful time of year!
But while feasting on delectable dishes, decking the halls, and doing fun activities may be part of your plans, we’re sure getting sick isn’t. Nothing can spoil your holiday cheer quite like food poisoning or the flu.
Germs and bacteria can be passed around along with plates full of yummy food, heartfelt gifts, and other things. Understanding the following common ways bacteria and infections spread during the holiday season can help keep you from being one of the unlucky ones who gets sick.
Contaminated Food
Regardless of the type of holiday you celebrate, there’s typically food served. Cookies, pies, turkeys, ham, casseroles and more will find their way to holiday tables. If these dishes aren’t properly prepared and stored, the potential for food poisoning and other spread of germs is possible. In fact, contaminated food is one of the top ways that bacteria spread during the holiday season.
Food contamination doesn’t just happen in dirty facilities or homes, either. It can happen in the cleanest restaurants and kitchens.
It only takes one small mistake for salmonella, listeria or E. coli to be introduced. Things as simple as leaving food out for too long, not putting food back in the refrigerator, or not cooking meat and fish to the proper temperature can allow bacteria to grow and spread.
Sick People
The most common ways that sick people infect others are through normal behaviors that are typically harmless. Something as simple as coughing or sneezing sends germs into the air. Shaking hands or coming into direct contact with other people also expedites the spread of infections and bacteria from sick people to others, especially when they don’t practice proper handwashing.
Touching surfaces like door handles, water dispensers, elevator buttons, or shared tools like tongs at a potluck enables germs to spread. Contaminated clothing and personal items can also transmit germs. Read our blog post about the top 5 cold weather diseases to see infections that typically spread this time of year.
Dirty Hands
It’s sad but true: Many people still don’t follow proper hand hygiene. A whopping 80% of all bacteria and viruses are spread through hands. Keep this in mind as you’re shaking hands at parties and events and consider whether an elbow bump or virtual hug might work instead.
The National Institute for Health published a study suggesting that, of the approximately two million infections that occur in hospitals, 70% could be prevented by following proper systems that include thorough hand washing.
Killing Holiday Germs
Killing holiday germs and bacteria takes some effort. You can reduce bacteria and viruses from surfaces and skin with the tips listed below.
Sanitize and Disinfect Surfaces Regularly
Creating a schedule to wipe tables, equipment, counters, and other shared, high-touch surfaces with sanitizing and disinfectant wipes is key to killing harmful germs in your facility. When selecting wipes, use an EPA registered or FDA approved sanitizer or disinfectant. They are proven to kill certain strains of bacteria and viruses like influenza, listeria, E.Coli, rhinovirus, pneumonia, and many other germs that you don’t want crashing your holiday plans. Read our Q&A Guide to Selecting The Right Disinfectant Wipe to understand what you should consider before choosing a wipe.
Encourage Hand Washing And The Use of Hand Sanitizers
Encourage and remind everyone at your facility to practice handwashing. Educate your team and visitors on the importance of washing their hands after going to the bathroom, eating or handling food, shaking hands with someone, touching shared public surfaces, and sneezing or coughing by posting signs throughout your facility. In addition, mount hand sanitizer dispensers in high traffic areas for easy access.
Deep Clean and Disinfect After A Sickness Has Been Reported
When someone has been reported sick, the best way to ensure germs don’t spread to others is by disinfecting your facility. Outbreaks that require deep cleaning and disinfecting include norovirus (stomach flu), foodborne illnesses like E. coli, listeria, and salmonella. Infections like MRSA, pneumonia, and influenza also require a deep clean. Create a checklist and assign tasks to the appropriate personnel or staff members. You can also hire a cleaning agency for added effectiveness.
Celebrate The Holidays Without The Holiday Germs
The winter holidays are a time of celebration and spending time with people you love and care about. Keep the joy going by protecting yourself and others from infections and sickness.