Americans love their road trips. What we don't love is the necessary evil of the inevitable rest stop. Used by hundreds of thousands of travelers every year, rest stops are a melting pot of all kinds of germs, pathogens, and viruses. While automatic flushing toilets and motion-sensor sinks and hand dryers have helped minimize points of contact, there is still potential to pick up a bug.

 

But in what should come as a relief to many (pun intended), there are simple precautions you can take to minimize your exposure and risk of getting sick while on the road.

 

Don't touch the doors

 

Whether entering or exiting the building, avoid touching door handles. Most facilities now have handicap accessible automatic door openers. Use your elbow, not your hand, to activate the door. If you don't see an opener, use a paper towel or napkin to push or grasp the door handle. In some situations, you may be able to use your backside to push open doors. If you must come in contact with a door, be sure to wash your hands or use a hand sanitizer before touching any part of your body, especially your face, eyes, mouth and nose.

 

Use toilet seat covers

 

Take advantage of disposable toilet seat covers featured in the stalls of many restrooms or you can bring your own. Toilet seat covers are available online and in some drug stores.  Even if there are no seat covers, do not use the toilet if the seat is wet, and do not attempt to clean it yourself.  Use a different toilet.

 

The floor is lava

 

Never place anything on the floor of a public restroom. When possible, leave bags and purses in the car. If you must bring one, use the hook on the back of the stall door to hold it or put the strap around your neck. But don't use the floor. You also want to be sure to not let your clothing touch the floor.

 

Wash your hands safely and thoroughly

 

Thanks to COVID, many restrooms are now equipped with motion-activated sinks and soap dispensers. But if that's not an option, use a dry paper towel to turn off the water once you've finished washing your hands (If you need a refresher on how to wash thoroughly, click here).

 

Skip the dryer, grab a towel

 

Numerous studies have found that in the battle for which is more sanitary—hand dryers or paper towels—paper towels repeatedly come out on top. The reasons include the fact that most people do not use hand dryers for the 60-seconds required to fully dry their hands. Because bacteria thrive on wet surfaces, still-wet hands provide them with an ideal breeding ground. Paper towels, on the other hand, do a better job of removing excess moisture and organisms.

 

Carry hand sanitizer

 

As a final precaution, use hand sanitizer once you've safely returned to your car to eliminate any hitchhiking germs.

 

 Donna Barron is a registered nurse and an infection preventionist at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center in Bennington.