Kill germs, prevent illness by following the basics

So you sneezed in your hand or you just got off a public computer during flu season but can't find a sink.  Staying healthy can be a daunting task on a campus but there are techniques that can greatly reduce the risk of getting sick. 

Carisa Hoyle, the nurse supervisor in the department of student health services at Winston-Salem State, said it is important for students to follow the basics when trying to avoid illness and germs.

Hoyle said students should eat well balanced meals throughout the day, receive adequate rest, exercise regularly, and wash hands frequently.

"When hands are visibly soiled, they should be washed in warm soapy water for at least 20 seconds and dried thoroughly."

While hand sanitizers are not a replacement for hand washing, Hoyle said, they are "an effective solution when you cannot get to a sink."

Before purchasing a hand sanitizer, one should consider the percentage of alcohol in the ingredients. Hoyle said the higher the percentage of alcohol in a sanitizer, the more germs it kills.

"Sanitizers with at least 62 percent alcohol kill 99.9 percent of germs."

 Some of the sanitizers that meet these requirements are brands like "Germ-X", "Dial", and "Purell."

Hoyle says it is important to wash your hands or sanitize them after contact with frequently used surfaces including door knobs, gas pumps, keyboards, and more.

The University has been taking precaution to protect the campus community from illness.

Jonathan Martin, executive assistant to the chancellor for external relations, said University protocol is guided by the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

 In the beginning of the fall 2009 semester, Provost Brenda Allen sent a campus-wide e-mail about the prevention, treatment and protocol for the H1N1 virus.  This e-mail cited CDC guidelines and recommendations.  

The WSSU website also features a direct link to the CDC. 

 Martin said WSSU posts PSA's from the Forsyth County Health Department Director Dr. Tim Monroe.