Special Edition

This content is brought to you by CHStoday in partnership with Roper St. Francis Healthcare.

🦠 See what kind of germs are growing on your phone

It’s the germ, germiest time of the year. Flu season is in full swing, COVID-19 variants just won’t go away, and more time indoors means more close-quarters coughing. Eww.

So how can we stay healthy during sniffle season?

We’ve all heard it before: Wash your hands, don’t touch your face and avoid biting your nails. But, what’s on your hands — or the items we touch every day?

To find out, we visited Rachel Hearne, microbiologist and self-professed lab nerd at Roper St. Francis Healthcare.

She swabbed a phone case, a keyboard, and a key fob, then incubated the germs to see what we had growing, and reported back:

⌨️ Keyboard

“The light pink plate demonstrated no growth, which is a relief. This plate is selective for organisms that thrive in high salt concentrations, often the ‘bad guys’ or more pathogenic organisms.

However, the yellowish colonies on the chocolate plate did catch my eye. Those are Staph aureus, notorious for causing severe infections if they find their way into the wrong part of your body.

The white and greenish colonies on the red plate? Those are usually harmless Staph and Strep species, but they’re always around us and could be troublemakers under specific conditions.”

🔑 Keys

“While the image of the inoculated plates might look uneventful, it’s anything but! That lone colony on the red plate? That’s MRSA. This superbug is resistant to many antibiotics and can cause havoc if it enters a wound.

But let’s not panic. Clean those keys with a bleach wipe and you’re good. And unless you’ve made a habit of licking your key fob, there’s no immediate cause for concern. If there were hundreds of those colonies, though, I might suggest getting a new car!”

📱 Phone case

Germs were found all over our everyday items, including our keyboard, keys, and phone.
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Photo by Roper St. Francis Healthcare

"I saved the best for last. OMG! Wipe down that phone case right now! Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a bacterium that can liquefy an eyeball in just a day — and it’s all over your phone!

There’s also some E. coli, a Bacillus species (harmless soil bacterium, but a cousin to the infamous Anthrax), and some Staph aureus. This snapshot is typical for most phones, which might not be life-threatening, but could indeed be making us sick or exacerbating existing conditions.

My advice? Wipe your phone with a bleach wipe and consider investing in a UV sanitizer. They work.”

Not too squeamish? Watch the full lab video.

See 3 ways to de-germ-ify your life

Events

Festival

Harvest Festival | Saturday, November 4 | 11 a.m.-5 p.m. | Johns Island County Park, 2662 Mullet Hall Rd. | $10 | Celebrate the harvest season at this family-friendly event, featuring a craft market, live music, food, activities for kids, and more.

Outdoors

Fall Gardening Class | Monday, November 6 | 11 a.m. | Dorchester Road Library, 6325 Dorchester Rd., Dorchester | Free | Learn about seasonal vegetable gardening in the Lowcountry with a discussion led by Clemson Extension Horticulture Agent, Chris Burtt.

Active

Holiday Festival of Lights Fun Run & Walk | Wednesday, November 8-Thursday, November 9 | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | James Island County Park, 871 Riverland Dr. | $35 | Kick off the holiday season with a two-mile, non-competitive fun run + walk and a special preview of the park’s festive lights.
Rooftop Yoga at Hotel Bennett | Saturday, November 18 | 10-11 a.m. | Hotel Bennett, 404 King St. | Free-$25 | Start your Saturday morning with a foundational vinyasa yoga flow on the Hotel Bennett rooftop observatory.

Sports

The Citadel vs. Wofford Football | Saturday, November 11 | 2 p.m. | Johnson Hagood Stadium, 68 Hagood Ave. | $17-$37 | Watch The Citadel take on Wofford during this afternoon military appreciation game.

Family

Homeschool in the Park: Animal Trackers | Friday, November 17 | 10-11:30 a.m. | Caw Caw Interpretive Center, 5200 Savannah Hwy., Ravenel | $9 | A hands-on experience for kids 12+ to take to the trails and learn how to identify animal tracks, nests, and more.

Health

Financial Checklist for New Parents | Tuesday, November 21 | 6-7:15 p.m. | Virtual | Free | Expectant parents + those interested in starting a family can register for this free session to learn about (and prepare for) the financial changes that come with having a baby.

Explore more CHS events

Eat

3 (healthy) recipes for your next tailgate

“Fall, football, food” is the new “Live, laugh, love.” | Photo by Helene Dujardin

Whether you’re a Gamecock, a Tiger, a Bulldog, or just a Taylor Swift fan, you’ve got to admit: Football is a big deal. And with football comes all the snacks.

That’s why we’re sharing three healthier than average recipes to make for your next tailgate or watch party:

Dry-Brined Chicken Wings with Buttermilk Herb Ranch (serves four)
Turkey Lentil Meatballs with Spinach & Mushrooms (makes 24)
Sesame-Crusted Veggie Potstickers (makes 40-50)

Let’s get cookin’

News Notes

Development

North Charleston’s Park Circle Reimagined project is still on track for a November opening. The $20 million project will feature a 55,000-sqft all-inclusive playground (the largest on the east coast), where children of all abilities will be able to play together. (Live 5 News)

Family

Trick-or-treating with the kids tomorrow? In case you missed it in last month’s newsletter, here’s a refresher on Halloween safety tips.

Outdoors

We’ve got our eye on the Lowcountry’s newest state park for all of our fall picnics and afternoon strolls. May Forest is free and open on weekdays for visitors to explore the 23-acre property and take in the views of the Charleston Harbor, Fort Sumter, and the Ravenel Bridge. (Post and Courier)

Active

Ever done yoga under the moon and stars? Find some strength, balance, and inner peace at Charleston County Parks’ final Starlight Yoga class of the year, coming up on Monday, November 6 at James Island County Park. This instructor-led class is open to all fitness levels.

Plan Ahead

Thanksgiving is right around the corner. Get some movement in before the big meal at the 46th Annual Turkey Day Run & Gobble Wobble 5K, coming up on Thanksgiving Day (Thursday, November 23). Registration is open now.

Now Open

Have you been to Crush Yard yet? ICYMI: This new, 40,000-sq ft pickleball club is now open in Mount Pleasant, featuring eight indoor pickleball courts, a lounge area, a restaurant, and a self-serve beverage system.

Fact or Fiction

If you quit smoking in the past 15 years and are between ages 50 and 80, you should be screened for lung cancer. Fact or Fiction? Find out ahead of Lung Cancer Awareness Month this November.

Wellness

It’s a good idea to get your flu shot to prevent illness ahead of flu season. But if you wind up with the flu or a cold, here’s a tip: Essential oils can be used as a holistic treatment option to help ease symptoms. Try diffusing oils like chamomile, eucalyptus + peppermint for some additional relief.

See more wellness stories

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