GFR - Classiest Business Idea in a Century

"You Stay Healthy Out There, Y'Here?"

Germ Free Remotes is getting some attention!

The website RedFerret.Net called us the "classiest business idea in a century!" Here is what they wrote:

Just when we thought we’d seen it all, up pops Germ Free Remotes, the classiest business idea in a century.
Take one ordinary remote control unit – A.
Take one custom fit plastic bag – B.
Insert A into B.
Seal bag – profit!
Genius, simply genius. Why didn’t we think of this?

To see the posting about us on their site, click here.

An Ounce of Prevention Keeps the Germs Away

Staying germ-free doesn't have to cost a lot of money or be a big hassle! Immune system supplements can be expensive, and disinfectant sprays are messy, smelly, and aren't 100% effective. Germ Free Remote bags are inexpensive, with prices as low as $.10/bag, and are 100% effective when used correctly.

Here are some other ways to stay germ-free throughout the cold and flu season. Find the full article, including tips & hints, here.

1. Wash Your Hands Often
Keeping your hands clean is one of the best ways to keep from getting sick and
spreading illnesses. Cleaning your hands gets rid of germs you pick up from other
people . . . from the surfaces you touch . . . and from the animals you come in
contact with.

2. Routinely Clean & Disinfect Surfaces
Cleaning and disinfecting are not the same thing. Cleaning removes germs from
surfaces – whereas disinfecting actually destroys them. Cleaning with soap and
water to remove dirt and most of the germs is usually enough. But sometimes, you
may want to disinfect for an extra level of protection from germs.
• While surfaces may look clean, many infectious germs may be lurking around.
In some instances, germs can live on surfaces for hours — and even days.
• Disinfectants are specifically registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) and contain ingredients that actually destroy bacteria and other
germs. Check the product label to make sure it says “Disinfectant” and has an
EPA registration number.
Disinfect those areas where there can be large numbers of dangerous germs – and
where there is a possibility that these germs could be spread to others.

3. Handle & Prepare Food Safely
When it comes to preventing foodborne illness, there are four simple steps to food
safety that you can practice every day. These steps are easy – and theyʼll help protect
you and those around you from harmful foodborne bacteria. The only way to know for sure that meat is cooked to a safe temperature is to use a food thermometer. Make sure it reaches the temperature recommended for each specific food.

4. Get Immunized
Getting immunizations is easy and low-cost – and most importantly, it saves lives.
Make sure you and your children get the shots suggested by your doctor or health
care provider at the proper time, and keep records of all immunizations for the
whole family. Also, ask your doctor about special programs that provide free
shots for your child.
• Children should get their fi rst immunizations before they are 2 months old. They
should have additional doses four or more times before their second birthday.
• Adults need tetanus and diphtheria boosters every 10 years. Shots are also often
needed for protection from illnesses when traveling to other countries.

5. Use Antibiotics Appropriately
Antibiotics are powerful drugs used to treat certain bacterial infections – and they
should be taken exactly as prescribed by your health care provider.
• Antibiotics donʼt work against viruses such as colds or the fl u. That means children
do not need an antibiotic every time they are sick.
• If you do get sick, antibiotics may not always help. If used inappropriately, they
can make bacteria resistant to treatment – thus making illnesses harder to get
rid of.
When in doubt, check with your health care provider – and always follow the
antibiotic label instructions carefully.

6. Be Careful With Pets
Pets provide many benefi ts to people, including comfort and companionship.
However, some animals can also pass diseases to humans. Keep these tips in mind
to make sure your pet relationship is a happy and healthy one.
• Pets should be adopted from an animal
shelter or purchased from a reputable pet
store or breeder.
• All pets should be routinely cared for by a
veterinarian. Follow the immunization
schedule that the vet recommends.
• Obey local leash laws.
• Clean litter boxes daily. NOTE: Pregnant
women should not clean litter boxes.
• Donʼt allow children to play where animals
go to the bathroom.
• Keep your childʼs sandbox covered when
not in use.

7. Avoid Contact With Wild Animals
Wild animals can carry diseases that are harmful to you and
your pets — but there are simple precautions you can take to
avoid contact with a variety of species.
• Keep your house free of wild animals by not leaving any
food around and keeping garbage cans sealed.
• Clear brush, grass, and debris from around house foundations
to get rid of possible nesting sites for mice and rodents.
• Be sure to seal any entrance holes you discover on the inside
or outside of your home.
• Use insect repellent to prevent ticks. Do a routine “tick
check” after spending time outdoors. Ticks should be
removed immediately with tweezers by applying gentle,
steady pressure until they release their bite.

4 Ways to Stop the Spread of Germs

Other than handwashing, these are the most important steps you can take to stay germ-free this winter:

1. Hands off the face. This is a major way bacteria and viruses get into our bodies: You touch something infected, then rub your eyes or nose, or touch the skin around your mouth. In fact, research shows that we touch our faces an average of 16 times an hour, says Charles Gerba, MD, professor of microbiology at the University of Arizona.

2. Avoid shaking hands. Again, hands are a major way germs travel. So whenever possible, greet someone with a wave instead.

3. Carry sanitizer with you at all times. It’s just as effective as soap and water, and you never know when you’ll need it, says Dr. Gerba.

4. Store disinfectant wipes in your home and office. Wiping down surfaces like your desk and kitchen countertops daily will get rid of harmful bacteria.

Germ Free Remote bags can also help you stay healthy! Our eco-friendly disposable remote covers protect you from germs that other people may have left on the remote control in hotel rooms and hospitals. Visit our website for more information.

Things You Don't Want To Know

• Excrement contains a lot of disgusting bacteria—many of them still alive—and over 120 viruses, including hepatitis A. If the bacteria would just stay in the toilet, the world would be a lot different. But because most people's personal hygiene habits are so poor, E-coli has been found everywhere.
• According to Dr. Charles Gerba, a microbiologist in Arizona who calls himself "the Sultan of Slime," the bathroom is cleaner then the kitchen in the average house. Not that you'll want to mix a salad in the toilet bowl. But he says you're safer making a sandwich on top of the toilet bowl than in the kitchen.
• The dirtiest spots in the kitchen are dishcloths, cutting boards, sponges, and sink handles. Surprisingly, the floor is often cleaner than the sink!
• Hotel rooms are another source of woe for fecal fanatics. One study, conducted in the early 1990s, found that a cheap hotel room had a lot more fecal bacteria in it than an expensive one. Perhaps a reflection of the cleaning; or the guests...
• One study found that 30 percent of all people didn't wash their hands after using a public bathroom—although 90 percent claimed they do. So do you really want to stick your hand in one of those bowls of mints at the exits of some restaurants? Did you ever wonder how many others who did that before you washed their hands before they left the bathroom?
• No one has tested these mints for fecal matter, but one story, perhaps apocryphal, is that someone ran an ultraviolet light over a bowl to test for urine—and found it.
• Other studies showed that half of all homes surveyed had fecal material in the washing machines, and underwear contained as much as ten grams of fecal matter. Washing didn't always help get rid of this, either, because most people do a load — a washing machine load, that is — along with other clothes, thereby spreading the fecal contamination around.
• In one study, diarrhea-inducing E.coli was found on 10 percent of coffee mugs.
• Between 7 and 42 percent of all paper money contained "revolting bacteria."
• One study found fecal matter on the screen of an automated bank machine (think of all the dirty fingers that touch those screens before you do).
• People who touch a pay phone and then touch their faces afterwards are dialing for trouble.

Source

Wyndam Hotels Fight the Spread of Germs

Wyndham Hotels is doing its part to fight flu and colds!
The chain teamed up with Bath & Body Works to give away free bottles of the retailer’s Deep Cleansing Hand Gel to arriving guests at 12 airport hotels.Calling it part of its “Be Well” philosophy, the hotel chain says it hopes the gesture can mitigate the risk of guests contracting flu or cold or spreading their own illnesses to others.The pocket-sized bottles are available in two fragrances—Warm Vanilla Sugar and Coconut Lime Verbana—or unscented. Guests also receive a coupon for a free antibacterial item of choice when they make a purchase of $10 or more at a Bath & Body Works story.Wyndham also features Bath & Body Works’ True Blu spa line of amenities in all its guestrooms.

Hotbed For Germs / Holiday Travel

Research has shown that germs such as the rhinovirus (the cold germ) can live on common household items (such as the tv remote, refrigerator door handle, doorknobs, and bathroom taps) for up to 2 days! These germs are also easily transmitted to people who use them. The lead researcher in the study, Dr. Birgit Winther, said that "Some people still spray the air with disinfectants, but rhinovirus doesn't fly through the air. I think the message from this research is that we need to focus more wisely on cleaning commonly touched surfaces in the home." Researchers are recommending that people boost their immune systems by frequently washing their hands and in general, maintaining their overall hygiene. The UK Hygiene Council is also suggesting that people regularly spray touches services with a high quality disinfectant spray that could kill viruses. Another good way to avoid these same kinds of germs is to use a Germ Free Remotes bag on television remotes. Many people travel during the holiday season and stay in hotels. Hotel television remotes are known to be hotbeds for germs, with the amount of people in and out of the rooms and with the short amount of time maids have to clean each room.

Swine Flu FAQs

Do you have questions about the H1N1 flu vaccine? Do you want to know if it is safe for someone with egg allergies? Were you already vaccinated for the 1976 swine influenze? The CDC website has a question and answer page on their website. Click here to check it out!