Journey Without the Germs

Tropical getaways. Amusement parks. Spa retreats. Travel is finally beginning to ramp up again. And after nearly two years of postponed vacations, people are itching to get back to it. For good reason, too. Traveling has many benefits — like happier moods, boosted creativity, better mental resiliency, and less stress and anxiety.¹ 

But do you know what else travel has a lot of? Germs. 

Whether you’re moving by air, car or boat, you’ll come into contact with many surfaces along the way. And those surfaces (think seat belts, door handles, steering wheels, gas pumps, counter tops, kiosks, elevator or vending machine buttons, etc.) can harbor and transfer germs. In fact, they’re often crawling with them.

 

The shocking truth about germs

It goes without saying that the germiest surfaces are the ones that encounter a lot of hands. Think about how many things you touch throughout your normal day that other people have also touched. Then, consider that nearly two million people move through U.S. airports every day² — and how many of the same surfaces everyone touches when traveling.

Fortunately, to combat germs in high-touch areas, some airports are implementing antimicrobial luggage bins, which can inhibit the growth of microbes.³ Lab studies have even shown that this technology can reduce up to 99.9% of bacterial growth.³

Traveling by auto isn’t any less germy than traveling by air either. Did you know that the interior of a car alone can harbor an average of 700 strains of bacteria — with the steering wheel being six times dirtier than the average cell phone screen?⁴ And the average gas pump handle was found to be a shocking 11,835 times dirtier than a public toilet seat.⁴

There’s also something to be said about the cleanliness of fast food restaurants, too. One study found that the number of germs found on the trays used to carry food was significantly higher than those found in a theater bathroom, on a public park swing or on a used gym mat.⁵

 

An increasing need to stop the spread

Unfortunately, a lot of people still travel when they’re not feeling well. Thirty-nine percent of Americans, to be exact.⁶ And 60% of those people say they don’t use germicides, wipes or other products to clean the surfaces they touch.⁶

With heightened awareness of how fast and easily germs can spread in public spaces, business owners and staff (in airports, gas stations, fast food restaurants, etc.) are working hard to keep high-touch areas clean. But the fact remains: now more than ever, we as travelers also need to level up our efforts to help stop the spread. 

So, how do you help ensure you’re leaving germs behind when you hit the road? And also avoiding germs while you’re on the go?

 

Healthier traveling starts with good hand hygiene

There are a few things you can do to help protect yourself on your travels. Being aware of the surfaces you encounter is a good start. And not touching your face (specifically, your eyes, nose and mouth) with unwashed hands. 

In fact, regular and thorough handwashing is one of the best things you can do to help protect yourself from germs. And using Hibiclens^® antimicrobial skin cleanser can take your handwashing even further. It begins killing germs on contact⁷ — and, with regular use, keeps killing germs on your skin, even between washes.

How? Chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG), the active ingredient in Hibiclens, bonds with the skin, providing extended protection against a wide range of bacteria. It leaves a layer of protection without any sticky residue, even after it’s rinsed off.  

As the number one dermatologist⁸-and-pharmacist9-recommended skin cleanser, Hibiclens is gentle enough for everyday use — almost as gentle as water, with its very low potential for irritation!¹⁰

With that kind of lasting protection, you can be back to traveling — with greater peace of mind — in no time.

 

 

1 https://www.forbes.com/sites/nomanazish/2018/01/22/five-reasons-why-travel-is-good-for-your-mental-health/?sh=2009d9a75934 

2 https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/by_the_numbers/ 

3 https://www.phl.org/newsroom/new-TSA-bins

4 https://www.realsimple.com/work-life/travel/gas-station-safety-cleaning-tips

5  https://www.protektonline.com/2020/04/8-of-the-most-germ-infested-things-in-a-restaurant/

6 https://www.forbes.com/sites/danielreed/2019/11/19/sick-of-traveling-or-just-sick-because-of-traveling-new-study-shows-many-of-us-have-poor-travel-cleanliness-habits/?sh=11a18f8459d1

7 Paulson, Daryl S. Persistent and Residual Antimicrobial Effects: Are They Important in the Clinical Setting? Infection Control Today 2005; Vol 9, No 4.;

8 IQVIA ProVoice Survey, 12 month end Nov 2021.

9 https://www.contemporaryclinic.com/otcguide/topicals/antibacterial-soaps

10 Mölnlycke Health Care, Data on File. Study # R05-0225.

* Hibiclens does not replace good hygiene practices, including regular handwashing.

 

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