Right now my office is a hotbed of gross noises - hacking, wheezing, coughing, sniffling. Yes, you guessed it - we all have colds!

Offices and schools are like a paradise to those nasty little microbes that cause all of our winter woes. With lots of warm bodies to infect, and plenty of vectors in which to sneakily lie in wait, it will be amazing if we ever feel better.

There are a few ways to reduce the transmission of pathogenic microbes around your office or school, and as always Next Day Office Supplies can help.

Most pathogens (or germs, as you might refer to them) are transmitted via droplet transmission. Picture it - the gal in the cubicle next to you sneezes a great and glorious sneeze - one that rocks your cubicle walls and almost sets off the fire alarms. As she sneezes, millions of droplets are expelled from her respiratory system, and fly through the air. The droplets are then free to be inhaled by others, or land on various pieces of office equipment. Okay, all together now - eeeeew!

There are a few ways to minimize the impact of droplet transmission.

1. Cover your mouth with a facial tissue when you cough or sneeze. If you provide every employee or every classroom with a box of tissues, they will be more inclined to use them appropriately. Every time you cough or sneeze, cover your mouth with a tissue. If no tissue is available, use your upper sleeve.

2. Encourage proper hand washing and use of paper towels. If you can sing and finish the ABC's song while you wash your hands, you are an excellent hand washer. Quitting before you hit the final verse of 'Next time won't you sing with me' and you're still likely to transmit germs to your friends.

3. Use antimicrobial sanitizing gels. Most of these gels eliminate microbes on contact, so if you're not much of a singer you can at the very least make an effort to have clean hands.

4. Use sanitizing disinfectants on highly used equipment. Phones, copy machine buttons, door handles - happy places for pathogens to hang out awaiting unsuspecting victims! Sanitize equipment regularly, and even more so during cold and flu season.

Just a few easy steps can greatly reduce the transmission of cold and flu throughout your workplace. And as we know, a healthy workforce is a more productive workforce.