smart living
Spread Joy, Not Germs
Eight Ways to Party in Good Health
By Lisa Borden
››› If you want to party it up
in style and good health this
holiday season, what’s a flu-
fearing, germ-wary, anxiety-
ridden person supposed to do?
Add the following advice to
your holiday list to stay healthy
and happy. You’ll be able to
knock a few back with your
friends and family rather than
getting knocked off your feet!
➊ Hands to yourself!
How about forgoing those handshakes
and social kisses for a fist bump? A
scientific study actually showed that
people who greeted each other with
handshakes are much more likely to
pass on the flu, colds and stomach bugs,
than people who cheek-kissed. You
have no idea what someone has been
touching before you greet them. This
isn’t completely adaptable advice for a
work event, but for your social circle, it
could be a good option!
➋ Sharing is caring?
Not for everything.
While sharing is one of those first
lessons we learn as kids, there are
always exceptions. It goes without
saying that there should be no sharing
of eating utensils, drinking glasses,
towels or other personal care items to
prevent contamination. Dishes of snacks
that people reach into for a nibble are
germier than you can imagine. When
serving guests, put utensils with each
dish so people can dole out the food
instead of reaching their hands in, and
no double dipping!
➌ Avoid MCIS.
You can prevent MCIS - Mistaken Cup
Identity Syndrome (when someone takes
a cup, puts it down next to another and
then both people have to get new cups
or inadvertently drink from each others).
If you are using disposables, buy cups
made from better materials (labeled
“compostable” or “100% recycled
content”), and have everyone mark
their cup with a marker (get creative!).
You can also use window markers to
write on your glassware (it will come
off in the wash, but not on your guests’
hands), or, better yet, coloured glass
straws in everyone’s drinks, which can
serve double duty as identification and
eliminating plastic straws or stir sticks.
Reducing is the best “R”. Recycling
tonic | December 2010 | 37
should not serve as justification for
single use stuff.
➍ Wash your hands!
The three crucial components to a good
hand washing are warm water, soap, and
friction. These decrease your likelihood
of spreading a virus to your nose, mouth
or other people. Wet your hands with
warm water, lather well by rubbing
hands together (be sure to cover all
surfaces and in-between fingers) while
you sing the ABCs (in your head if need
be) so that you can time how long you
need to scrub. Rinse thoroughly and
dry well. A cloth hand towel is the eco-
friendly choice, but since we’re going
for health-friendly at holiday parties,
recycled paper towels will do the trick
(unless you have lots of cloth napkins).
Wash your hands before eating, before
AND after going to the bathroom, after
coughing, sneezing, or blowing your
nose, before preparing food and after
handling any raw meat/poultry/egg, and
certainly a good wash is called for as
soon as you come home.
➎ Be anti-anti-bacterial.
Many sicknesses are viral, not bacterial,
so plain, old soap and water will get
you just as clean as any anti-bacterial
product. Our culture is germ obsessed
and this has encouraged a flood of
products on store shelves with anti-
bacterial or anti-microbial claims.
Always have a safe and effective hand
sanitizer on hand (pun intended) for
when you cannot wash your hands
properly (options include Quash, Clean
George or Cleanwell).
➏ Take cover.
Stay home when you are sick. It’s the
right thing to do for everyone, including
you, because when your immunity is
low you can pick up other germs more
easily. Steep some tea, add a little
manuka honey and get some rest. Don’t
let stress undermine a quick recovery
and try and enjoy your forced time out.
It can be disappointing, but your guests
will be much more upset if they catch
something and have to spend the rest of
their holidays in bed.
➐ Take cover some more.
Cover your mouth when you sneeze
(with your arm, not your hand), and
avoid anyone who doesn’t (remind your
kids!).
➑ Drink and be merry.
Stay hydrated, but stay away from
bottled water. Toast the holidays with an
offering from the taps of Toronto – it’ll
keep you and our world healthier.
Here’s to sharing great times with your
friends, colleagues and families…
without sharing your germs. Happy
holidays! 
Lisa Borden
~ is an eco-advocate whose marketing business,
Borden Communications + Design is a direct reflection
of her commitment to better, more responsible living.
lisa@bordencom.com

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38 | December 2010 | tonic