Being outside

while it is warm means you're in contact with more people and more germs

in places like playgrounds, rest stops, bathrooms, amusement parks, campsites

and the beach. In fact, researchers at the University of Arizona have

found that playground surfaces were contaminated with higher levels of

filth than public bathroom surfaces.

"For some

reason, people tend to harbor a false sense of security while outdoors

when it comes to germs," said Charles Gerba, MD, University of Arizona.

"If they really thought about it, though, they would realize that

indoor surfaces are usually cleaned-at least every so often. Many outdoor

surfaces aren't."

The Centers

for Disease Control and Prevention says that hand hygiene is the single

most important way to prevent the spread of infection. However, when you

are on-the-go and outdoors, it's not always convenient or possible to

run to a sink and wash your hands. In fact, 40 percent of the time when

consumers should clean their hands, soap and water are not available.

There is an easy way to get rid of the germs that may make you sick: carry

a bottle of instant hand sanitizer.

Alcohol-based

instant hand sanitizers, like Purell, kill 99.99 percent of germs that

may cause illness in as little as 15 seconds, without water. Hand sanitizers

are just as effective as soap and water and they are gentler on the hands.

Health care and food service industries have used Purell for over 15 years

to supplement employee hand washing.

For more information,

visit www.healthyhandsusa.com .

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