HOLIDAY GERMS

***FIVE WAYS TO AVOID GERMS DURING YOUR HOLIDAY TRAVELS***

Flu season is officially here, along with the holidays, and your chances of getting sick are even higher when you're travelling. So here are five tips to help you stay healthy during your holiday travels . . .

#1.) SIT CLOSE TO THE FRONT OF THE PLANE. Germs spread easily on planes, since people are packed together like sardines. But the ventilation systems on most planes provide better air circulation in the front than in the back. Try to get a seat near the front. And obviously, if you can afford it, first class is even better, since you won't have to deal with someone on either side of you coughing in your face.

#2.) DON'T DRINK COFFEE OR TEA WHILE YOU'RE FLYING. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, water served on airplanes is NOT the cleanest. It's usually heated but NOT boiled, which means a lot of bacteria could be right in your cup.

#3.) SANITIZE YOUR HANDS AFTER USING AN AIRPLANE BATHROOM. It's one of the dirtiest places you'll be all day. With 50 people per toilet, there's A LOT to worry about. In fact, even the TAP WATER can be filled with bacteria.

Not everyone washes their hands either, so the bathroom door is probably a hot zone. To stay germ-free, wash up, and then use hand sanitizer when you get back to your seat.

#4.) WASH YOUR HANDS AFTER USING AN ESCALATOR. Again, it's a high-traffic area, and the handrails are completely COVERED in germs. Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer as soon as you can to reduce your risk of catching something.

#5.) WASH YOUR HANDS IF YOU USE THE ATM. You can't go without cash . . . but just like with escalators and airplane bathrooms, you should sanitize your hands ASAP if you use the ATM. Keeping your hands clean is crucial when you're traveling.

Remember, whether you're at the airport, in a taxi, or in mid-flight . . . when you travel, you spend all day in contact with things that have been touched by THOUSANDS of other people. (CNN.com)