Up until recently, I had to be the least hygienic hypochondriac on the planet. I spend hours and hour self-diagnosing with Dr. Google, but I never concerned myself with PREVENTING germs, only with treating hypothetical ones. Then I had a baby, and suddenly, my hands cried out for hand sanitizer, and I saw germs EVERYWHERE. As I mentioned in a previous post, the vaccine dilemma was so hard for me because I get the concerns over them, but I also see deadly outbreaks around the corner. Unfortunately, many threatening illnesses don't have vaccines--a thought that makes me want to buy stock in bubble wrap and never let my child breathe anything other than filtered air. But, they are preventable.
Mom Central is working with Stop MRSA Now to spread the word about one such infection. Super bugs that are resistant to antibiotics aren't just the plot of House and Grey's Anatomy--they affect real families everyday. I jumped at the chance to do this tour, because I know the devastating effects that this infection can cause. A friend is permanently scarred after a bout with MRSA that required multiple surgical procedures--and this friend is one of the lucky ones. I also know a few bloggers that fought back against MRSA accquired during hospital stays. After visiting the website, my heart goes out to the families who have lost loved ones to MRSA infections.
After going to the website and reading the stories, I went into super-paronia mode about germs, but luckily they have some great tips for how to prevent MRSA infections:
- Scrub up - Wash hands frequently with soap and warm water for at least 15 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand rub sanitizer.
- Wipe
it down - Use a disinfecting bleach solution to wipe down and disinfect
hard surfaces. (1 tablespoon of disinfecting bleach diluted in 1 quart
of water)
- Cover your cuts - Keep any nicks or wounds covered with a clean, dry bandage until healed.
- Keep to yourself - Do not share personal items, like towels or razors, that come into contact with bare skin.
- Use a barrier - Keep a towel or clothing between skin and shared equipment.
We're entering the time of year here where it often seems like choosing between two evils--the big nasty germs of the indoor playplaces, groups, classes, and other sanity savers, and the mindnumbing boredom of staying home with a restless toddler. I'm really grateful to the Stop MRSA Now folks for these tips that help prevent the spread of many infections--not just MRSA.
P.S. On a similar note, Mom Central is also helping to promote Flu Prevention and Say Boo to the Flu! This website is also packed with great germ preventation tips and can help make the coming winter easier.
