Germs are everywhere and, because we can’t see them, it makes it that much easier to catch a cold or the flu. Due to such a hard-hitting flu season this year, it’s even more important to take precautions to help you and your loved ones stay healthy. With a few simple steps, you can protect yourself in a matter of minutes.  

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) designates flu season during the fall and winter months, with the peak varying in occurrence anywhere from November to March. Many states in the U.S. have already reached peaks and flu cases continue to grow, hitting some areas particularly hard. The CDC further reports that nearly 200,000 people are hospitalized due to the flu each year, and about 36,000 people die from it.

To help you guard yourself and your family, Dr. Anthony "Jay" Avenido, chair of the Allied Health department at Brown Mackie College - Cincinnati offers advice on how to steer clear of this invisible menace.

"The environment is filled with germs," says Avenido. "They live on telephones, keyboards, door handles, and gas pumps." Germs transfer easily, even without direct contact with an infected person. Whenever an infected person handles something, germs transfer to the surface. Once there, the germs can live up to several days. "One person can literally transmit germs to hundreds. As we routinely encounter germs, they find ways into our bodies," he says.