5 Simple Ways to Reduce Germs in the Office

 

Changing seasons are known to increase the risk of people becoming sick. Many people find themselves dealing with sniffles and watery eyes as the weather begins to cool. One of the most common places to catch germs that lead to a sickness is in the workplace. Many people spend upwards of 40 hours per week at their jobs. During this time, you’ll find yourself dealing with the risk of coming into contact with a sick colleague. Here are five tips to help ensure you avoid germs at the workplace.

1. Always Wash Your Hands
   
   It’s understandable to find yourself busy with tasks while at work. However, you’ll never want to avoid washing your hands, not just after using the bathroom. An office is a place where germs are on nearly every surface. You’ll want to ensure that your thoroughly washing your hands for at least 30 seconds. If you find it difficult to get to the bathroom or office sink throughout the day, it’s best to keep hand sanitizer at your desk.
2. Don’t Work While You’re Sick
   
   Many workplaces have understandable plans in place that allow employees to stay at home. If you’re willing yourself to go to work while you’re ill, consider the potential risk of contamination other workers will face. Many medical professionals recommend resting when you’re sick which is impossible to do while you’re working. You’ll find working while you’re sick slows the time your body needs to heal which can make a sickness last much longer.
3. Regularly Clean Your Workspace
   
   It’s common for a few workers to drop by your desk throughout your day. Unfortunately, some workers may leave behind traces of germs accidentally that need to be cleaned. You’ll want to ensure you keep sanitary wipes near your desk. It’s recommended that you wipe down your desk, keyboard, mouse, and telephones at least once per day.
4. Keep Mouth Covered
   
   You’ve probably heard about the importance of covering your mouth when you sneeze or cough. However, many people are unaware of how to ensure that a minimal amount of germs escapes your mouth. It’s best to use a tissue or other type of material to cough into. Coughing or sneezing into your hands may protect the spread of germs but it leaves your hands filled with germs. If you have no other choice but to use your hands, wash them immediately.
5. Visit Urgent Care When Dealing With Care
   
   Many people seek out urgent care centers for fast treatment for medical issues that aren’t emergencies. Statistics show that 21.7% of medical urgent care centers are able to treat over 450 patients per week. One reason many people prefer to seek treatment at a medical urgent care center is the fast wait times. Statistics from the Urgent Care Association of America found that 57% of all patients treated wait less than 15 minutes to be seen by a staff member.

In closing, there are several important tips to help ensure you avoid getting sick while at work. Regularly washing your hands helps to reduce the spread of germs. If you’re feeling under the weather, it’s important to stay home from work. You’ll quickly find that working while your sick is hard to do. In addition, working while sick often means the illness lasts longer. It’s wise to keep any workspace areas wiped down that are touched throughout the day. Keeping your mouth covered when sneezing or coughing works well to reduce the spread of germs. If you can’t avoid becoming sick, it’s wise to visit a medical urgent care facility. Statistics show that nearly 48% of adult ER patients not sick enough for hospital admission sought treatment at a nearby urgent care location.