The Doctors on TV

Did you watch "The Doctors" TV program today? (I did.) Afterwords, I couldn't find the episode on the Internet but found abbreviated details. Please do yourself a favor and read this extremely valuable information.

Hidden Health Hazards
Show Synopsis

Toxic Clothing
Are your clothes toxic? Before you take off the tags, make sure to see what you’re really putting on your skin. The Doctors report that many fabrics contain glues, resins and chemicals like formaldehyde. These compounds can cause irritation and dermatitis, which is an inflammation of the skin.

To counter the effects of these chemicals, always wash new clothing before wearing it, and replace your regular detergent with organic or dye-free detergent.

Personal Items
Items you handle up to 50 times a day can harbor germs and diseases that are both harmful and potentially life-threatening. When tested, everyday items such as your purse, cell phone, keys, and ATM and credit cards harbor germs like:
• Animal and human feces
• E coli bacteria
• Staph bacteria
• Alpha streptococcus bacteria
• Meningitis bacteria
• Gonorrhea bacteria

Yikes! So what can you do about it?

• Wash your hands often
• Wipe your personal items clean with sanitary wipes
• Don’t place your purse on any surface; always hang it. Try a pocket purse holder like Luxe Link!

Restaurants
Before you pull up a chair at your favorite eatery, beware! Dirty rags used to wipe surfaces spread germs across counters and tables, and copious amounts of disease-causing organisms lurk on pagers, salt and pepper shakers, glassware, silverware, and drink garnishes such as lemons, olives and cherries.

Grocery Store
Improper food handling, contamination and consumption contribute to more than 76 million cases of food-borne illnesses every year, but basic food-handling tips can avert many common mistakes.

Supermarket Safety:
1. Buy refrigerated foods last, and transport your goodies from fridge to fridge within 30 minutes.
2. Make sure items at the salad bar are fresh.
3. Check expiration dates.
4. Pack meat away from produce.
5. Look for tears in packaging.
6. Wipe off hand baskets and grocery cart handles.
7. Wash your hands immediately when you return home, and wash them again after putting the groceries away.
8. To protect your child from germs on the grocery cart seat, use machine washable fabric seat covers.

Hospitals
Hospital infections are the fourth leading cause of death in the United States, claiming more lives than breast cancer, AIDS and traffic accidents combined.

Two years ago, Alicia went to the hospital for a routine surgery, but contracted a deadly, flesh-eating bacterial infection called necrotizing fasciitis. She spent more than two months battling the infection and barely escaped with her life. Tearfully, Alicia admits she is still healing but believes it critical for others to learn from her story.

“There’s no such thing as a routine procedure,” she warns.

“Your skin is an organ, and when that skin is breached, even for surgery, it has the potential for bacteria and germs to get in. You need to be aware of that risk when you go into the hospital,” Alicia implores.

Whether it’s a brief hospital visit or extended stay, find out how to keep you and your loved ones safe.

Airplane Dangers
Susie, an anonymous flight attendant, reveals the dirty truth about airplane sanitation. What she has to say will shock you!

Traveling
Traveler, beware! Cramped quarters, poor air quality and hoards of people ensure that any location teeming with people, such as airplanes, airports and hotels, are also teeming with germs and disease-causing organisms.

Upon inspection, The Doctors find everything from E. Coli to pinkeye, bed bugs and head lice.

Hotel Rooms
The dirtiest items in the room are:
• Remote control
• Comforter
• Glassware
• Light switches

Lorraine here: Let's check back (The Doctors) for the program (aired 3/05/09).