There was murder on Pendle Street this morning; True story. I’m staying with my family at an AirBnB in South Bend, Indiana. We’re going to the University of Notre Dame campus to witness and celebrate a granddaughter’s graduation. I got up early (5 a.m) and headed for the shower. I planned to beat the rush for the shpwer. I glanced at myself in the mirror and stared at the hair day from hell. I closed my eyes to avoid the frightful mirror image and turned toward the shower. I turned the shower on and waited until the temperature was perfect. I pulled back the shower curtain and jammed the brakes. Staring at me was a spider trying to escape the flash flood created by the shower. iThere was no way I was going to share the shower with a spider. I had no choice. I’ll claim self defense. I dispatched the spider with a wad of toilet paper.
shower
Today’s Health Tip ~ Want to Avoid Getting a Bacterial Infection at the Gym?
Fitness facilities can be germ factories
- Safeguard your skin. Keep cuts and scraps clean and covered with a bandage until healed. Keep a barrier such as an item of clothing or a towel between your skin and equipment that others use, such as weight-training machines and sauna benches. Always wear flip-flops or shower shoes in wet areas.
- Bring your own exercise mat. Gym mats, like those used for practicing yoga, may not get cleaned between classes, so it’s safest to tote one with you.
- Practice good hygiene. Wash your hands before and after playing sports or using shared equipment. If soap and water are not available, the CDC advises using a hand sanitizer that’s at least 60 percent alcohol. Use sprays or wipes to disinfect gym equipment both before and after you use it. Shower after exercising or using a hot tub or swimming pool.
- Do your laundry. Stash sweaty clothes, swimsuits, and used towels in a plastic bag separate from the rest of your gear and wash them after every use. “Evidence shows that the numbers of skin bacteria build up each time we wear a piece of clothing without washing it,” Vasquez says. Heat kills bacteria, so she advises washing and drying items at the warmest temperature level listed on the clothing tag.
- Be stingy with your stuff. Avoid sharing personal items that touch bare skin, such as razors and towels.
