Back to work; back to germs. No thank you!

It’s always a worry when school reopens, and the question around the house is, “who is going to get sick first?”.

But, it’s not only the kids that bring germs and illnesses home.

“As adults we forget that when we step back into the office after a long, relaxing holiday we are entering a confined area that plays home to many people, which in turn plays home to many germs,” says Lindie Pretorius, Linctagon brand manager.

It is important that we take precautions to ensure that we don’t start our work year lying in bed coughing and sniffling.
Here are a few tips to help you stay healthy:

1. Keep a hand sanitiser on your desk. Many germs are transferred from your hands to your face through touching. Think about it – you have touched the door handle, the lift button, the kettle handle – who else has?
2. Tissues are a must in every office. When you sneeze or cough the best thing is to use a tissue and then throw it away immediately. If you don’t have a tissue nearby, use the inside of your elbow, and not your hands, to cover your mouth.
3. Precautions need to be taken all through the year, and when you feel a cold or the flu coming on the time to act is now. Keep Linctagon® C effervescent in your office drawer or bag, and when you feel that the office is spreading too many germs, dissolve one in water (don’t forget to share with your colleagues). The Linctagon® effervescent includes the active ingredient pelargonium Sidiodes which can shorten the duration of colds and flu, as well as reduce their severity. It also includes vitamins A and C to assist in antioxidant support.
4. Studies have shown that items on a desk are highly contaminated with germs, and if you are hot desking, it is a good idea to either use your own stationery, or make sure that you clean the items you use, as well as your hands afterwards.
5. You may adore your colleagues, but it goes without saying the biggest carrier of germs around the office are the people that work there. You can only assume that they wash their hands often, or that they didn’t sneeze into their hands just before shaking yours. Instead of becoming a hermit at the office, refusing to speak to anyone, make sure that you make good use of your hand sanitiser.

“For many parents, the office is a sanctuary away from their children, but it is also a place where germs spread, and can be taken home with you,” says Pretorius. “When you keep yourself healthy at work, you are also keeping yourself and your family healthy at home.”