Don’t forget the hand sanitizer after filling up at the pump, because it could be coated with cold and flu germs.

 

So says Kimberly-Clark Corp., which tested gas stations, bank machines, mail boxes and other objects commonly touched every day in six major cities (Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami and Philadelphia). Its conclusion: 71% of gas-pump handles and 68% of mailbox handles were highly contaminated with germs.

 

Forty-three percent of escalator rails and 41% of ATM panels were also crawling with germs, as were parking meters at 40%, and crosswalk buttons and vending machines at 35% each.

 

By the way, it just so happens that Kimberly-Clark’s product line includes Kleenex tissues, waterless hand sanitizers and antibacterial hand soap.

-Noel Brinkerhoff

 

Ewww! Germs on Gas Pumps, Atms and More Could Make You Sick (by Patricia Anstett, Detroit Free Press)