Are you ready to fight germs? (Germs) Let's talk about this!

You've probably heard the word 'germs' a lot, haven't you? Especially if you have young children, or if you're someone who gets sick often. What exactly are these germs? What happens when they enter our bodies? And more importantly, what can we do to protect ourselves from them? Let's talk about all of this today.

What are germs?

Simply put, germs are very small organisms that we cannot see with our naked eyes. These include bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa . Some of these can make us sick. That's why we talk about washing our hands often and staying clean. Washing your hands well and often is the best way to prevent infections and illnesses caused by these germs.

What problems can we have because of germs?

Now let's see what happens when these germs enter our bodies. Imagine, these little creatures sneak into our bodies. Once inside, they are ready to stay there for a while. These germs get all the energy and nutrition they need to survive from our bodies. In other words, they use our body's resources. While they are in this state, they can damage and even destroy our healthy cells.

Not only that, but as they use our nutrients and energy, these germs sometimes produce proteins called toxins. These toxins are like poisons. They help the germs do their job, which is to destroy our cells.

So, when germs enter our body like this, our body doesn't just stand there. We have a very amazing defense system in our body. We call it the immune system . This is a big network of cells, tissues, and organs that work together. It's like an army that protects our country. This immune system is what protects our body from enemies from outside, that is, these germs.

As soon as a germ enters, our immune system kicks in. It then releases special soldiers like white blood cells, antibodies , and other chemicals to fight off the germs that have entered the body.

So, it is because of this battle between these germs, the toxins they produce, and our immune system that we experience various annoying symptoms when we get sick with colds and flu. For example, runny nose, sneezing, coughing, and diarrhea. Sometimes these germs can cause not only high fever, increased heart rate, decreased blood pressure, and an inflammatory response in the body, but in some cases, they can even cause serious conditions that can be life-threatening.

How can we protect ourselves from these germs?

Okay, so how do we protect ourselves from these terrible germs? This is the most important thing.

Most germs spreadThrough the air when you sneeze or cough, or through bodily fluids like sweat, saliva, semen, vaginal secretions, and blood. Therefore, the best way to protect yourself from germs is to limit your exposure to them whenever possible.

Remember these things:

• Wash your hands often. This is the number one safety precaution.
• Minimize contact with sick people. If you are sick, it is best to stay home to avoid spreading the illness to others.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth frequently. This is how we can unknowingly introduce germs into our bodies.
• When you sneeze or cough, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue. Throw the used tissue in the trash immediately. If you don't have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow, not your hand.

Hand Washing - The most important weapon in the fight against germs!

As we've said before, hand washing is one of the best ways to stop the spread of germs. It's important to make sure everyone in your family, especially young children, wash their hands regularly and properly. This can significantly reduce the risk of getting sick.

When should you definitely wash your hands?

Here are the times when you should definitely wash your hands:

• After coughing, after wiping your nose.
• After using the toilet.
• Before preparing food and before eating food.
• After touching pets.
• After working in the garden.
• Before and after visiting a sick relative or friend.

What is the best way to wash your hands?

Is just rubbing a little water on your hands not enough? Here's how to wash your hands properly:

• Use plenty of water (warm or cold doesn't matter) and soap.
• Rub your hands together for at least 20 seconds (with the water running). For younger children, practice washing your hands until you sing the "Happy Birthday" song twice. That's when it's time.
• Then rinse your hands thoroughly with water.
• Dry your hands thoroughly with a clean towel or air dry.

Remember, germs spread quickly on wet hands, so it's also very important to dry your hands.

What if there is no soap and water?

Sometimes it's hard to find soap and water. In such cases, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Rub it on your hands thoroughly, until the liquid dries. This also takes about 20 seconds.

Food and Kitchen Safety

Next, let's talk about how we can protect ourselves from germs in the kitchen, because germs can easily enter the body through food and drink.

Be sure to wash your hands when working in the kitchen, before eating, and before preparing food. Instill this habit in the little ones at home as well. Also,It is also very important to follow proper food-handling techniques.

For example:

• When preparing raw meat and poultry, use separate cutting boards, knives, forks, and utensils. If you use the same utensils, germs from raw meat can be transferred to other foods.
• Wash and clean used utensils and kitchen counters thoroughly with hot, soapy water.

Cleaning Surfaces

Keeping frequently touched surfaces in the home clean is also a great way to control germs. Think about how many things we touch in a day, such as toys, doorknobs, light switches, sink faucets, and toilet flush handles. These can be contaminated with germs.

Soap and water are enough to clean these areas. You can use any common cleaning agent available in the store. But remember one thing, do not mix different types of cleaning agents or chemical liquids together. If you do, the chemicals can combine and be harmful to the skin and eyes.

You can also use household bleach to disinfect. However, when using bleach products, you should follow the instructions on the package exactly.

Safe Sex

This is especially important for sexually active young people , as viruses, bacteria, fungi, and protozoa can be spread through oral, anal, or vaginal sex. Therefore, it is very important to use condoms to protect against these infections.

Vaccines - Another important protection

Another powerful way to protect ourselves from infections caused by germs is to get vaccines. We also call these immunizations . What these vaccines do is prepare our bodies to fight off a certain disease.

A vaccine contains either a dead or weakened germ (or part of a germ). This is the germ that causes the disease in question. When someone is given a vaccine, their immune system thinks they have the disease. It then produces antibodies that can recognize parts of the germ.

So, if the germ actually enters the body later, the body already has those antibodies, so it knows how to fight the infection. So the person either doesn't get sick, or if they do, they get very little. So it's very important to make sure everyone in your family, especially young children, has received all the vaccines they should have at the appropriate times.

What is the take-home message for us from this story?

Okay, we've talked a lot about germs, the problems they cause, and how to protect ourselves, haven't we? Simply put, these tiny, invisible germs can cause us a lot of trouble. However, if we follow a few good habits, we can easily stay safe from them.

Remember, washing your hands regularly and properly is your most important weapon!

In addition, don't forget to stay clean, stay away from sick people, prepare food safely, and get your necessary vaccinations on time. These simple things will help you and your family stay healthy. So, let's start practicing these habits better from today, right?

` Germs, Hand Washing, Immunity, Infections, Vaccines, Cleanliness