Keep The Germs Off Your Cell Phone: Flu Tips From AT&T and Medical Apps

Nowadays, people take their phones with them everywhere they go, from the gym to the bathroom and then to the dinner table and even to bed. Throughout your day, you inevitably shake hands, touch doorknobs and staircase railings – and then you touch your phone and put it against your face. With flu season in full swing, it’s crucial that we keep our phones germ-free. The flu has been spreading fast across the country this year, with more than half of states reporting widespread activity. In fact, this year’s flu outbreak is one of the worst in a decade, says the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

I’ve had the flu twice already this year and it’s a nasty one. So take steps to keep yourself healthy, here are a few tips from Dr. Geeta Nayyar, AT&T’s Chief Medical Information Officer.

1. Consider getting a flu shot. If you are sick and experiencing flu symptoms, do not share your phone and stay home to avoid infecting others. Keep your germs to yourself. 

2. Avoid sick people.  If you share your phone with friends or family be careful, you may be sharing more than just your phone, you may be spreading a virus!

3. Wash your hands frequently. Sing a verse from a familiar song (e.g., “Happy Birthday”) while lathering and rinsing. Don’t rush. If soap and water are not available to wash hands then use disinfectant like hand sanitizer.

4. Wash your phone!  If you think it has been contaminated, disinfect your phone. Follow your phone manufacturer’s instructions on how to clean your device properly.  (Remember that washing your hands and then touching a dirty phone or keypad is self-limiting).

5. Try using a Bluetooth device or other hands-free headset, minimizing your keypad-to-face exposure

6. Don’t – please don’t – use your phone in a restroom.  Some things can wait!

Find more information about the flu at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. 

Medical APPS and Flu Tracking Apps

FYI – CDC Challenge Winners

Fight the Flu app

HealthMap: Outbreaks Near Me

CDC Influenza

AT&T sent me these tips and information to share with you.