Alert
Close

Last chance! Play brain games for a chance to win $25,000. Enter the Brain Health Sweepstakes

AARP Membership: Just $16 a Year

Highlights

Close

Grocery Coupon Center

Powered by Coupons.com. Access to grocery coupons

Bad consumer experience?

Submit a complaint to AARP's consumer advocate

Geek Squad

Exclusive offers for members

Technical Icon

Spanish Preferred?

Visit aarp.org/espanol

10 Steps to Retirement

Do something every day to help you achieve your goals

Contests and
Sweeps

You Could Win $25,000!

Enjoy fun, challenging games and learn about brain health. See official rules.

Health
Webinars

Learn From the Experts

Sign up now for an upcoming webinar or find materials from a past session.

learning
centers

Get smart strategies for managing health conditions.

 

Arthritis

Heart Disease

Diabetes

Most Popular
Articles

Viewed

Recommended

Commented

Don't Touch That! 8 Ways to Protect Yourself From Germs in Public Places

Beware of these locations and surfaces

Brain

Get Your Brain in Shape!

Think faster, focus better.
Brain Fitness: It's free to start.

  • Text
  • Print
  • Comments
  • Recommend

On average, an adult can touch as many as 30 objects within a minute, including germ-harboring, high-traffic surfaces such as light switches, doorknobs, phone receivers and remote controls.

Sign up for the AARP Health Newsletter.

At home, you do all you can to keep germs at bay. But what happens when you go out to dinner, do some grocery shopping or visit the doctor's office? If you know where germs are most likely to lurk, you can protect yourself.

Germiest Public Places

Germs on a menu: Very unappetizing. — Photo by Daniel Lai/Aurora Photos

1. Restaurant Menus

Have you ever seen anyone wash a menu? Probably not. A study in the Journal of Medical Virology reported that cold and flu viruses can survive for 18 hours on hard surfaces. If it's a popular restaurant, hundreds of people could be handling the menus — and passing their germs on to you. Never let a menu touch your plate or silverware, and be sure to wash your hands after you place your order.

Next: Why you should sour on lemons. »

Article used with permission of Prevention.com.

Topic Alerts

You can get weekly email alerts on the topics below. Just click “Follow.”

Manage Alerts

Processing

Please wait...

progress bar, please wait

Video Extra

AARP's David Certner discusses Medicare and fiscal cliff on NBC. Increasing the eligibility age could cost you — and others.

Tell Us WhatYou Think

Please leave your comment below.

You must be signed in to comment.

Sign In | Register

More comments »

Health Blog

Discounts & Benefits

AARP Discounts on ACE Services

Members save 20% off on personal training and group fitness with American Council on Exercise.

Grandson (8-9) whispering to grandfather, close-up

Members save on hearing care with the AARP® Hearing Care Program provided by HearUSA.

Member Benefits

Members receive exclusive member benefits and affect social change. Join Today

bring health To Life-Visual MD

featured
Groups

Social Security

How to strengthen Social Security for future generations. Discuss

Medicare & Insurance

Share health coverage information and experiences common to being age 50+. Join

Health Nuts

Share heart-smart recipes, fitness tips and stress relievers. Join