Discounts and E.coli At The Mall
Bargain shoppers beware, while grabbing some great deals at the mall, you may also be picking up some E.coli or other bacteria that can make you sick, according to a Fox News.com story.
Wherever there are a lot of people, there are a lot of germs. According to the story, there are eight places where bacterial levels are especially high:
- Restroom sinks: E. coli and other bacteria lurk on the faucet, handles and soap dispensers because people touch those surfaces right after using the toilet. To protect yourself, wash your hands thoroughly by lathering with soap for at least 20 seconds, then rinse well.
- Food court tables: Even if tables have just been wiped down, it doesn ’t mean they’re clean. If the rags are dirty, they’re spreading germs, not removing them. To protect yourself, carry disinfecting wipes that conatin alcohol and wipe the table before you sit down.
- Escalator handrails: "In our testing, we have found food, E. coli, urine, mucus, feces, and blood on escalator handrails," says Charles Gerba, in the story. To protect yourself, avoid touching handrails altogether, or use hand sanitizer afterward.
- ATM keypads: these touchpads harbor viruses and bacetris incluing E. coli, especially the “enter” button. To protect yourself: "Knuckle" ATM buttons to avoid getting germs on your fingertips and be sure to wash your hands or use sanitizer afterward.
- Toy stores: can actually be germier than play areas, carousels, and other kid-friendly zones, Philip Tierno, director of clinical microbiology and immunology at New York University Langone Medical Center, in the story. "Kids lick toys, roll them on their heads, and rub them on their faces, and all that leaves a plethora of germs on the toys," he says. The goods their parents don’t buy end up back on the shelves, where your kid finds them. To protect yourself, wipe down any toy that isn’t in a sealed box or package with soap and water, alcohol, or vinegar before giving it to your child.
- Fitting rooms: It’s actually the clothes, not the room. Skin cells and perspiration feed bacterial growth. To protect yourself, wear full-coverage underwear when trying on clothes, especially pants, bathing suits, and any other garment that touches your backside.
- Gadget shops: There’s no way for stores to clean every item after someone picks it up and looks at it. To protect yourself, wipe it down with a disinfecting wipe before you handle it. And use hand sanitizer when you’re done.
- Makeup samples: 
Heading to the makeup counter? A 2005 study found that between 67 and 100% of makeup-counter testers were contaminated with bacteria, including staph, strep, and E. coli. To protect yourself, avoid using public makeup samples to apply cosmetics to your lips, eyes, or face. Ask for a single-use unit instead. If that’s not available, use a tissue to wipe off the sample and then apply the product to the back of your hand.
News source: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2011/11/21/8-germiest-places-in-mall/?test=faces#ixzz1eRgXRnGy
