As summer rolls around, the desire for outdoor recreation and sports becomes irresistible. Whether you're an avid hiker, a beach lover, or a sports enthusiast, engaging in these activities is not only fun but also beneficial for your physical and mental well-being. However, ensuring a safe and worry-free experience should always be a top priority. In this ultimate guide, we'll explore key tips and strategies to help you enjoy recreation and sports with peace of mind. Prioritize Safety Precautions: Before embarking on any activity, familiarize yourself with safety guidelines and ensure you have the necessary protective gear. Stay informed about weather conditions, water safety rules, and any specific guidelines for the activity you're participating in. This includes using appropriate equipment and gear, such as helmets, life jackets, or sunscreen. Assess Your Fitness Level: Be honest about your fitness level and choose activities that match your capabilities. Gradually increase the intensity and duration of your workouts or adventures to avoid injuries. Consider consulting a healthcare professional if you have any underlying health conditions. Stay Hydrated and Fuel Up: Proper hydration and nutrition are crucial for maintaining energy levels and preventing dehydration or fatigue. Carry water bottles and healthy snacks to keep you fueled throughout your activities. Remember to replenish electrolytes, especially during intense physical exertion. Respect Nature and the Environment: When engaging in outdoor recreation, be a responsible steward of the environment. Follow "Leave No Trace" principles, dispose of waste properly, and respect wildlife habitats. Leave nature untouched for future generations to enjoy. Stay Connected and Informed: Share your plans with a friend or family member and establish regular check-ins, especially if venturing into remote areas. Stay updated on local regulations, closures, or potential hazards related to your chosen activity. Utilize reliable sources of information, such as park websites or local authorities. Let's go a little deeper into how LastGerm's Pure&Clean line of products can help you have the safest summer (and beyond). As we have written before, our Pure&Clean products go beyond our First Aid Spray and Hydrogel (although those are amazing products! Click the links to check out more information on them!) The use of our Pure&Clean Sports products can mean the difference between an infection and staying safe and infection/illness free all year long. Our products range from the all-in-one skin defense to our mat cleaner to our gear cleaner. You might be surprised at how nasty mats and sports gear can get. Without proper maintenance, they can break down causing safety issues. Without proper cleaning, they can cause skin conditions like impetigo, MRSA, staph, and more. Our Skin Defense product can help out on the Little League field or at other summer recreation programs. It's a quick way to take care of minor wounds, cuts, scrapes, burns, blisters, and a whole lot more—all of the little things that can happen on a day-to-day basis when kids (or adults) are out playing! Wrestling is an all-year-long sport, as are gymnastics and other sports activities that use mats. Pure & Clean Sports Mat Cleanser is made for any surface that needs to be effectively cleaned. We’re setting the bar as the only Hypochlorous Acid-based Mat Cleanser on the market today. Quit using harsh chemicals to clean the mats. It’s hard on the mat and hard on the athletes. Use Pure & Clean Sports products to help abolish skin issues! Are you still having skin issues on your team? Some coaches say, “No we really don’t have skin issues, just the one or two kids that contract some issue or infection.” Since when did it become okay to have any skin issues from sports? Our mission statement is to abolish skin infection issues. It is NEVER okay for an athlete to miss training or competition due to a skin issue. Pure & Clean Sports Mat Cleanser is made for any surface that needs to be effectively cleaned. We’re setting the bar as the only Hypochlorous Acid-based Mat Cleanser on the market today. Quit using harsh chemicals to clean the mats. It’s hard on the mat and hard on the athletes. Use Pure & Clean Sports products to help abolish skin issues! We can help keep summer fun with our products that help with bug bites, sunburn, minor wounds, and more! By prioritizing safety, assessing your fitness level, maintaining proper hydration and nutrition, respecting the environment, and staying connected and informed, you can ensure a worry-free and enjoyable summer of recreation and sports. Remember, peace of mind allows you to fully immerse yourself in the beauty of these activities, making lasting memories while keeping safety at the forefront. So, gear up, embrace the outdoors, and experience the joy of summer with confidence and tranquility.

Wounds are an inevitable part of life, ranging from minor cuts and scrapes to complex surgical incisions. Proper wound care is crucial in promoting healing, preventing infection, and minimizing complications. With advances in medical science, the field of wound care has witnessed remarkable progress, combining both art and science to optimize patient outcomes. The Importance of Early Intervention: Early intervention plays a pivotal role in wound care. Promptly cleaning the wound with mild soap and water helps remove debris and reduce the risk of infection. Applying an appropriate dressing, such as sterile gauze or adhesive bandages, creates a protective barrier while promoting a moist wound environment conducive to healing. You can use first-aid kits which can be effective, especially if they are stocked with the right stuff! Some of the right stuff that our LastGerm.com mini first-aid bundles come with are: (1) 2 oz P&C First Aid Spray (1) 2 oz P&C HydroGel (1) 1.7 oz GoldShield Hand Sanitizer (1) 80 count GoldShield Disinfecting Wipes These mini first-aid kits are great for use on the go when you are traveling, on the boat, in the RV or camper, in your purse or backpack, and in the home for great first-aid care. Our Pure&Clean products are first-rate as well as the GoldShield products. You can check out the mini first-aid bundle here! We also have our Family First Aid Bundle which includes: (1) 8 oz P&C First Aid Spray (1) 8 oz P&C HydroGel (2) 2 oz P&C First Aid Spray (2) 2 oz P&C HydroGel (4) 1.7 oz GoldShield Hand Sanitizer (2) 80 CT GoldShield Disinfecting Wipes This Family kit has enough products to share with several people, or in a couple of prime locations. One of the products that my family absolutely loves is Hydrogel. We use it on scrapes, scratches, burns, sunburns, mosquitoes and other bug bites, and more! I recently shared the Pure&Clean First Aid Spray and Pure&Clean Hydrogel with someone who suffers from Lyme Disease and has very strong allergic reactions to mosquito bites. He used both products on his bites and the itching went away quite quickly as did the raised welts that he got from the bites. He was amazed at how quick and effective the products are. Advanced Techniques and Technologies: In recent years, innovative wound care techniques and technologies have revolutionized the field. For instance, negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) utilizes a vacuum-assisted system to enhance blood flow, remove excess fluid, and stimulate tissue growth. This technique is particularly effective for chronic or difficult-to-heal wounds. What also works really well and is far less invasive is our Pure&Clean Hydrogel. Just look at these results! If that wasn't enough to convince you, look at these! These are real results from real people who suffered from their wounds for a long time! Our Pure&Clean First Aid Solution and Pure&Clean Hydrogel are scientifically proven to accelerate healing even in major burns! Multidisciplinary Approach: Successful wound care involves a multidisciplinary approach, with healthcare professionals collaborating to provide comprehensive treatment. Wound care specialists, nurses, surgeons, and nutritionists work together to address various aspects influencing wound healing, such as infection control, nutritional support, and underlying health conditions like diabetes. Being a person who suffers the ill effects of type 2 diabetes, wound care is especially vital for me and could mean the difference between a small cut on my foot to an amputation of my foot if not properly cared for. If I have a cut, I treat it with Pure&Clean First Aid Solution and Pure&Clean Hydrogel. I don't even hesitate because I know this stuff works and it works very well! Prevention and Education: Prevention is a key aspect of wound care. Educating patients on proper wound management, emphasizing the importance of hygiene, and encouraging early intervention can significantly reduce the risk of complications. Regular assessment of high-risk patients, such as those with diabetes or limited mobility, allows for early detection and intervention. Conclusion: Wound care has evolved into a dynamic field that combines scientific advancements and compassionate patient care. Through early intervention, innovative techniques, and a multidisciplinary approach, healthcare professionals strive to optimize healing, minimize complications, and improve patients' quality of life. By prioritizing prevention and education, we can collectively work towards reducing the burden of wounds and fostering better health outcomes. Using our products may help you immensely! As always, we at LastGerm cannot provide you with medical advice, we can however tell you that our products have worked very well for us and that they have worked very well for a lot of people! There is scientific evidence behind our claims and, as always, you can request documentation about our products. If you want to learn more, click any of the links above or check out our previous blog posts to learn more.

That's quite a headline for something that is pretty complex: smell. Our noses have the ability to differentiate over 1 trillion different scents! As amazing as it seems it's a fact. With that in mind, it's a miracle that we can detect one smell from another and a "good" smell from a "bad" one. While how smell works is an interesting study in itself, we aren't going to get into that in this short blog post. What we are going to talk about is something we have discussed in the past and that is smells that come from things being closed up for the winter or other time periods. Have you ever opened up your camper, cabin, or even your garage and thought, "What is that awful smell?!" Smells can come from anywhere and from anything, but some smells are worse than others and they don't seem to dissipate even with the windows open! What we will talk about is a simple, yet effective way to get rid of smells in your camper, cabin, house, garage, or anywhere else odors pop up. Smell Be Gone Wouldn't it be nice if there was a product out there that simply eliminated odors instead of masking them? If that product could be safe for you and your family and your pets, that would be an extra bonus. Well, LastGerm.com has a plethora of products that will not only help with smells but mold and mildew that often cause odors. Mold doesn't just grow in your house, boat, shed, cabin, or camper...it grows all over including any place that is damp. Just keep in mind that getting rid of mold takes a lot longer than preventing it. Our Xanigo Marine line of mold prevention products has you covered! It works in your fish house, your boat, your garage, and even your house! Anywhere mold grows, Xanigo Marine products work! Mold and mildew can cause a lot of odor problems for many of us. Even if we don't think mold is hanging around, you would be surprised at where it can sneak in. Our bathrooms can be hot spots for mold. Basements and other places in our homes, cabins, and even campers can be breeding grounds for mold. Get rid of the mold and/or mildew and a majority of foul odors will go away! We also offer a full line of GoldShield products that can help you deal with odors! Our GoldShield products eliminate odors caused by smoke, trash, septic systems, stale cooking, and more. Contains no masking agents or fragrances and is highly effective at neutralizing urine and fecal odors. Banishing Foul Odors: Effective Strategies for a Fresh-Smelling Space Unpleasant odors can linger in our homes, cabins, campers, offices, and even our cars, leaving us desperate to restore a pleasant atmosphere. Whether it's the remnants of a burnt meal, pet accidents, or other sources of stench, fear not! With a few simple yet effective strategies, you can bid farewell to foul odors and welcome a fresh-smelling environment once again. Identify the Source: The first step in tackling any odor issue is identifying its source. Sniff around to pinpoint the origin. Common culprits include trash bins, dirty laundry, or neglected food items. Once identified, remove or clean the source to eliminate the odor at its root. Fresh Air and Ventilation: Open windows and doors to allow fresh air to circulate. Good ventilation helps disperse odors and brings in natural fragrances. Consider using fans or air purifiers to enhance air circulation and filter out unwanted smells. Odor Absorbers: Utilize natural odor absorbers like baking soda, activated charcoal, or coffee grounds. Place these absorbent materials in bowls or fabric pouches near the source of the odor. They will effectively soak up unpleasant smells over time. Deep Cleaning: Regular cleaning is crucial to maintaining a fresh environment. Scrub floors, carpets, and upholstery with odor-neutralizing cleaners. Don't forget to clean neglected areas like drains, garbage disposals, and refrigerator interiors, as they can harbor stubborn odors. Scented Solutions: Employ scented solutions such as air fresheners, scented candles, or essential oil diffusers. Choose fragrances that align with your preferences, but be mindful of overpowering scents. Opt for natural, non-toxic options to avoid introducing harmful chemicals into your living space. Eliminate Lingering Odors: For stubborn odors, tackle them directly with specialized solutions. Our GoldShield line can combat mildew and mold odors effectively. Battling foul odors requires a multi-pronged approach, combining thorough cleaning, proper ventilation, and strategic odor-absorbing techniques. By following these practical tips, you can restore freshness to your living space, creating an inviting and pleasant environment for yourself and others. Remember, a little effort goes a long way in banishing those unpleasant odors and enjoying a revitalized, odor-free atmosphere. Check out our site today and find out more!

Sometimes the saying, "the best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry" is more true than we ever could imagine. For example, our plan was to write part 2 of our information about the fungal infection blastomycosis and how our LastGerm products could help eliminate or at least reduce the threat. However, the best-laid plans... Instead, we are going to tell you about a new product we are introducing called Tae'Tu. Okay, what is Tae'Tu? First off, it is a great solution to some of the common problems that can occur whenever we are doing body art from tattoos to piercings, to permanent make-up and microblading. It is a single, water-based, moisturizing aftercare product that covers all your bases. Combining a proven and gentle antiseptic ingredient, with the unique characteristics of a patented formula, tae'tu provides a highly effective, long-lasting protection that outlasts any other product. ​ It has been proven effective against some of the "icky" parts of the healing process! itching infection swelling redness AFTERCARE THAT KEEPS WORKING EVEN AFTER IT DRIES. Unlike other aftercare products that stop protecting as soon as they dry, Tae'Tu will protect you from infection the moment you put it on and all the hours between recommended twice-daily applications. MULTIPLE USES Proven fact:​ • the active ingredient in Tae'Tu has been used in a variety of products in the healthcare industry for decades. It has been proven safe, gentle, and effective infection protection for use before surgical procedures and for minor wound care for all ages - even for sensitive skin. Try it for care after: TATTOOS PIERCINGS MICROBLADING PERMANENT MAKEUP BRANDING You can check out more information on our website, too! Look for special pricing for a limited time! Check it out. It doesn't have an odor and is easy to apply and helps healing and can even brighten up old tattoos!

We have talked about funguses in the past. They are all around us. Most of the time we live side-by-side with them without worry or complaint. However, lately, we are hearing more and more about fungal infections and other seemingly innate organisms rising up, it seems, against the human race. This is part one of a two-part series on a rising fungal infection. According to a brief CBS News report on April 14, 2023, "at least one person has died, and 96 others have been sickened, in an outbreak of blastomycosis at a northwest Michigan paper mill." What is blastomycosis? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it is an infection caused by a fungus called Blastomyces. The fungus lives in the environment, particularly in moist soil and in decomposing matter such as wood and leaves. In the United States, the fungus mainly lives in the midwestern, south-central, and southeastern states, particularly in areas surrounding the Ohio and Mississippi River valleys, the Great Lakes, and the Saint Lawrence River. People can get blastomycosis after breathing in the microscopic fungal spores from the air. Although most people who breathe in the spores don’t get sick, some people will develop symptoms like fever and cough, and the infection can sometimes become serious if it is not treated. Blastomycosis, also known as Gilchrist's disease, is a fungal infection, typically of the lungs, which can spread to the brain, stomach, intestine, and skin, where it appears as crusting purplish warty plaques with a roundish bumpy edge and central depression. CBS News reported that the outbreak at the Escanaba Billerud Paper Mill in Michigan included "21 confirmed cases, where labs have been able to spot the fungus in samples collected from people with symptoms. An additional 76 cases are considered 'probable,' with those people having shown symptoms and tested positive in an antibody or antigen test." Symptoms of blastomycosis According to CDC, "Fever is a common symptom of blastomycosis. Approximately half of people who are infected with the fungus Blastomyces will show symptoms. The symptoms of blastomycosis are often similar to the symptoms of other lung infections and can include: Fever Cough Night sweats Muscle aches or joint pain Weight loss Chest pain Fatigue (extreme tiredness) Skin lesions; such as raised bumps, blisters, or ulcers How soon do the symptoms of blastomycosis appear? Symptoms of blastomycosis usually appear between 3 weeks and 3 months after a person breathes in the fungal spores. Severe blastomycosis In some people, particularly those who have weakened immune systems, blastomycosis can spread from the lungs to other parts of the body, such as the skin, bones and joints, and the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord). Because the fungus that causes blastomycosis thrives in decomposing materials like wood and leaves, it does make a certain sense that a paper mill would be a place the infection would have cropped up. The CDC further reports that blastomycosis isn't usually contagious and doesn’t spread between people or between people and animals through the air. In extremely rare cases, blastomycosis has been spread between infected people or animals through needlestick injuries, bites, or sexual contact. Yes, your pets may get it too, by breathing in the fungal spores. Blastomycosis can be a HUGE issue in manufacturing plants and could be coming to YOUR city! More information coming next time! In part two of this series, we will talk about how this fungal infection, as well as others, can be eradicated. LastGerm products can make an incredible difference in fighting the microbial war!

Let's face it, cuts can hurt. A paper cut can really hurt. Any kind of wound or injury can hurt. I remember walking around barefoot outside during the summer and stepping on a broken bottle and getting glass in my foot. Not only did the wound bleed and bleed and bleed and scare my mom half to death—it also hurt! I am not here to tell you that cuts, booboos, ouchies, punctures, and wounds don't hurt. They do. What I want to share with you are some simple steps to help you heal faster. A Recent Example A few days ago, I was awoken at about 1 a.m. by the sound of blood-curdling screams coming from my living room. I bolted out of my bed and to the living room in about two steps. My granddaughter was sitting on her day bed (where she sleeps while we are remodeling) with the side of her face in her hand. I yelled, "What happened?" I was scared. Had something fallen on her? Was she having a nightmare? As soon as she calmed herself down enough to speak, through her sobs, I heard, "Groot scratched my face." Groot is our 8-month-old terrier-poodle mix puppy. (He's the one on the right in the photo. He weighs about 5 pounds.) Anyway, he had been lying in the day bed with her and he saw the cat and bolted from the bed using her face as a "launchpad!" After hugging and comforting her for several moments and strongly chastising Groot verbally, she finally pulled her hand away from her face so I could see the damage. I expected a little scratch. I was surprised, however, to see several long scratches on her face. OUCH! I wasn't surprised that she was crying! She had two fairly long scratches and one shorter scratch. They were hot and had made welts. The area around the scratches was red. I calmed myself down. I needed her to see that I was calm so that her tears would dry up. After I touched the scratches, then I told her that I wanted to put some medicine on the scratches. I got out my trusty bottle of Pure&Clean First Aid Spray and sprayed the wound to make sure it was clean. Who knows that Groot might have walked in that was under his claws? After that had dried, I sprayed on some Pure&Clean Hydrogel. She said it still hurt, which didn't surprise me. But within about half an hour she was sleeping again. In the morning, I asked to see her scratches. I was pleased to see that the welts had vanished and the healing was already well underway. The small scratch was mostly gone and the two longer scratches were healing nicely. I applied more first aid spray after washing her face and then applied more hydrogel and sent her to school. When she got home, we repeated the process. Then we went out for supper and went to a movie. When we got home, we applied some more hydrogel. This is what we saw this morning. WOW! In about 52 hours, the ugly scratches were nearly gone. They were no longer raised welts and were merely very thin lines. I anticipate they will be gone completely by the end of the week if not sooner. She said the scratches don't hurt at all. (They stopped hurting that first night). There are no visible signs of infection. She is sold on Pure&Clean and so am I! Here are a few links to previous stories that were told you about this miraculous product. Incredible Healing At Your Fingertips It Might Be A Miracle How to take care of insect bites, sunburn and more TLC For What Ails You You Got A Nasty Cut...Now What? You can learn a lot more about Pure&Clean. Pure&Clean products can help with sunburn, bug bites, burns, cuts, and more. What if you get a bug bite? Well, there are several things you can do to reduce the itch. Again, WebMD suggested the following: Wash the area with soap and water. Apply calamine lotion or anti-itch cream. Put an ice pack on the bite. Take an over-the-counter antihistamine. But what if there was a better, all-natural solution that would speed up the recovery time and be helpful in so many other ways, too? For example, if you were out helping your neighbors clean up after one of the storms that have been striking and you got a sunburn. Wouldn't it be nice to have a product that would help with bug bites and sunburn? LastGerm has got you covered! In our partnership with Pure&Clean, we can provide solutions to many of the problems that ail you. For example, the very versatile Pure&Clean Hydrogel can work wonders on your bug bits and sunburn and more. Check out the following about the product. Pure&Clean Hydrogel Statements: • Non-Cytotoxic • DIY Skin Protection • An environmentally friendly product • Doctor and Pharmacist Recommended • Works to manage the wound and skin, frequent and regular applications will help accelerate the process and return your skin back to its normal healthy state. • Simple to use: Just spray it on! • Contains no antibiotics, no steroids, and no alcohol for a sting-free first aid product! • All natural • Promotes health and wellness • Manages wounds and skin with positive results • Spray all intact skin including hands Hydrogel is Safe for the management of: • Minor wounds • Cuts • Scrapes • Scratches • Blisters • Sunburns • Poisoned plant sap irritations • Rashes • Insect bites and stings About Pure&Clean Pure&Clean is a young family-owned business that offers an amazing line of Hypochlorous Acid (HOCl) products. What is HOCl? Glad you asked. HOCl is a naturally occurring molecule that is produced by our neutrophils (a type of white blood cell) to fight bacteria and inflammation after trauma. Because it is naturally produced by all mammals, our stable solution is completely non-cytotoxic and can be used in sensitive areas, even around the face, nose, ears, and eyes. HOCl is known to be a broad-spectrum solution that kills bacteria, viruses, funguses, and even spores. Our process and quality of ingredients are unmatched in the marketplace, which is proven by our results and our HOCl industry's best FDA-cleared shelf life (not reduced by opening the bottle). What sets Pure&Clean apart? 24-month shelf life, not affected by opening the bottle Stable pH between 5.5 - 6.5, promotes healing without damaging the most delicate cells Produced through a proprietary, electrolysis process If you have questions about Pure&Clean and how Lastgerm is working with them to bring you more quality products that make your life safer and better, contact an agent near you who will be happy to assist you.

There is a video game out there called "The Last of Us." They have capitalized on the game's popularity by creating a series on HBO/Max. The premise of the story is this: "After a global pandemic destroys civilization, a hardened survivor takes charge of a 14-year-old girl who may be humanity's last hope." The story revolves around the handful of survivors—primarily Joel and Ellie—who may be humanity's last hope. The story takes place after the Cordyceps infection ravaged America. The Cordyceps infection is a fungus that grows within a human being—not "real" that I know of, at least not yet—it takes over the body and the brain turning the infected person into a zombie-like creature that wants to kill anyone who isn't infected. Well, as I said above, I don't think this is real—yet. But there is a fungus that is currently among us that can be deadly. Candida auris As stated by an article on MSN, "According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a deadly fungus in the Candida genus, Candida auris, is adapting to become resistant to drugs. While this doesn't present a problem for healthy people, it can cause severe illness and even death for those who have weakened immune systems." We are seeing more and more bugs and fungi that are becoming resistant to drugs and treatments. It can be very scary out there. The article goes on to say "the CDC estimates that between 30 percent and 60 percent of people infected with the fungus have died. While these numbers are alarming, they're based on a very limited sample of people-those who have been admitted to medical facilities due to severe illness caused by the deadly fungus. That relatively small sample group only includes people who already had compromised immune systems, used invasive medical devices or had extended or frequent stays at medical facilities." The CDC themselves say this about Candida auris—"Candida auris is an emerging fungus that presents a serious global health threat. CDC is concerned about C. auris for three main reasons: It is often multidrug-resistant, meaning that it is resistant to multiple antifungal drugs commonly used to treat Candida infections. Some strains are resistant to all three available classes of antifungals. It is difficult to identify with standard laboratory methods, and it can be misidentified in labs without specific technology. Misidentification may lead to inappropriate management. It has caused outbreaks in healthcare settings. For this reason, it is important to quickly identify C. auris in a hospitalized patient so that healthcare facilities can take special precautions to stop its spread. CDC encourages all U.S. laboratory staff who identify C. auris to notify their state or local public health authorities and CDC at candidaauris@cdc.gov. According to CDC, here is what you need to know about it. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW C. auris, first identified in 2009 in Asia, has quickly become a cause of severe infections around the world. C. auris is a concerning drug-resistant fungus: • Often multidrug-resistant, with some strains (types) resistant to all three available classes of antifungals • Can cause outbreaks in healthcare facilities • Some common healthcare disinfectants are less effective at eliminating it • Can be carried on patients’ skin without causing infection, allowing spread to others Data represents U.S. cases only. Isolates are pure samples of a germ. In some patients, this yeast can enter the bloodstream and spread throughout the body, causing serious invasive infections. But, as the CDC points out, this increase in cases has been mostly limited to healthcare facilities. What can we do to protect ourselves? The old standby is always helpful—Wash your hands with soap and water! Hand sanitizer also works in the absence of soap and water. Our BioProtect Hydrating Hand Sanitizer is on clearance right now. Check it out! We are not saying that washing your hands or using hand sanitizer or other products will prevent Candida auris. But check this out: Many products are being tested through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to ensure the elimination of the Candida Auris fungus. We are confident that Goldshield and P&C will kill this fungus, although we are waiting on the final testing results as are most other companies. It is a fungus and our products have been proven to kill most other types. Our Goldshield One-Step Disinfectant has four ammoniums in its active ingredients. This is vital in killing many types of bacteria and fungi. List P: Antimicrobial Products Registered with EPA for Claims Against Candida Auris | US EPA Here's some basic information on our BioProtect Hydrating Hand Sanitizer (which is on clearance right now at amazing prices): BIOPROTECT™ Hydrating Hand Sanitizer BIOPROTECT™ Hydrating Hand Sanitizer is an FDA-registered hand sanitizer that kills 99.99% of germs and bacteria on your hands up to 6 hours! Moisturizes and hydrates hands as it kills germs and bacteria. Infused with soothing aloe vera. Fragrance-free, dye-free, paraben-free, and sulfate-free. SDS Sheet You can also check out our Goldshield products. We also have an amazing hand sanitizer in that line. 1.7 oz container. Moisturizing foam, alcohol and methanol free kills 99.99% of illness-causing germs and common bacteria for hours per application. Instantly protect and noticeably soften your hands with this hydrating, no-drip hand sanitizer that won’t dry, crack, burn, or irritate your skin. The best part is that the Goldshield formula allows our hand sanitizer to safely remain on your skin for hours (alcohol-based alternatives lose 100% effectiveness once they dry) protecting from both airborne and surface germs and common bacteria. In this convenient size just throw it in your purse or kids’ backpacks and you’re ready to take on whatever life brings you. But it isn't just your hands that you want to protect and defend. We have a full line of disinfecting products that will make your home, office, church, workplace, or any other place cleaner and sanitized. We are switching over to the Goldshield line along with other Pure&Clean and Xanigo products. Our Vital Oxide and BioProtect products are still available for a limited time in the Clearance section under the Shop tab above. You can use the links on the product names to easily see a description and pricing for these highly effective and safer products. Our products are highly effective in cleaning and prevention. We hope you will check out more of our site and find exactly what meets your needs. At LastGerm.com we are all about solutions to the problems that face us every day. There are so many things that can impact our lives from the food we eat to the homes we live in. LastGerm.com can be your go-to solution for many of the problems that make our homes, offices, workplaces, schools, churches, and any place where people gather. Check us out today! We hope you like our new logo! We feel it better shows who we are. Feel free to comment below or ask questions!

Being healthy doesn't have to be a mystery or even a challenge. Check out this short post and learn some awesome, easy ways to help yourself to the healthiest year of your life! I was the focal point of a weight loss contest that ran through our newspaper (Independent News Herald) for over 10 years. I became quite an expert in health and fitness over that time period. I read and did many hours of research each week about health, fitness, and weight loss. I was in all ways considered an expert. Even though we no longer run the contest, I still spend many hours a month reading and "digesting" information about nutrition, health, fitness, and more related to weight loss and the prevention of diseases. Today, I will post some of the best tips for living your healthiest year ever including some of the products that I use to enhance the prevention of diseases, because, let's face it, diseases are getting stronger and nastier and are increasing in number. Tip #1 - Eating for a healthier life There are a lot of foods out there that purport to be "healthy." Trust me, just because the label says a product is "healthy" does not mean that it is. I cannot tell you that you cannot eat certain foods and be healthy. I will not tell you to only eat fruits and vegetables to be healthy. I believe that your food choices are yours alone but I will tell you that eating whole foods is much more healthy than eating all ready-made food. If the food product you are purchasing has more than one to three ingredients, you should probably put it back on the shelf! If the food has ingredients that you cannot pronounce, you should probably leave them on the shelf. If the food has a lot of extra added sugars, leave it alone! You will be a lot healthier if you are eating more foods that are single-ingredient foods. Let me explain. When I was growing up, we usually had meat, a vegetable, and fruit for lunch and supper/dinner. We also typically had a slice of buttered bread and a glass of milk. Those are all single-ingredient foods. We might have a stew that included meat, potatoes, and some other vegetable but they are all individual ingredients. That is what I mean by single-ingredient foods. They can be mixed together, but I don't recommend buying a can of stew because who really knows what is all in there? Eating healthy does not have to be a burden. It can be a lot of fun because it gives you more flexibility and also makes you think a little more instead of simply grabbing a can and opening it. There are tons of articles out there that will tell you more than you can imagine about what food to eat and how to prepare it. But I will not rehash all of that for you. If you are interested in reading more you can check out my personal blog at diabeteshealthnuts.com for more. Tip #2 - Walking for better health When we talk about exercise and fitness, many people immediately think that they need to get a fitness club membership or purchase all sorts of expensive equipment for a home workout. Trust me, you do not need to do any of those things, although you certainly can. Walking is undoubtedly the least expensive and one of the most beneficial forms of exercise. You don't need any expensive or fancy equipment—except a good pair of walking shoes. "Walking gets the feet moving, the blood moving, the mind moving. And movement is life." —Carrie Latet When you walk, you do get things moving and because living things move, walking is a great way to get outside and move! If you don't like to walk alone, find a friend or family member who wants to walk. Walk your dog. There are so many ways to get out there and walk. Take advantage of your surroundings and walk! Tip #3 - Beating the type 2 diabetes odds I have type 2 diabetes. There are days when I am truly unhealthy. My blood sugar might be really high or really low. When I eat certain foods, I can become very ill. When I get a cold or other flu-like illness, it can take me longer to get over it and I might get sicker than others do. I test my blood sugar regularly. I have recently begun to use a Continuous Glucose Monitoring device (CGM) so I don't have to prick my finger several times a day. This device is attached to my arm (some people wear them on their stomachs) and constantly reads my blood glucose levels. As someone who struggles with diabetes, this device is a very beneficial addition because I can check where I am at a specific time in addition to the continuous readings. I can see how certain foods affect me and know what works and what doesn't work. As with the eating tip, you can find out more at diabeteshealthnuts.com. Tip #4 - Keeping your home, office, church, school and more clean This one is often neglected when we are thinking about health. But if your home, workplace, church, school, etc. is not healthy, then it will be much harder to get and stay healthy. LastGerm.com is an excellent place to find the products you need to make and keep your home, church, workplace, school, and the like—healthier places for you to live. Just like all of the other tips I have provided, you need to realize that keeping your surroundings healthy is a HUGE part of getting and keeping healthy overall! We have so many products that can meet such a variety of needs from surface care (counters, tables, chairs, church pews, you name it), to wound care (cuts, burns, mosquito bites, you name it), mold remediation and prevention, and athletic protection. These are all such important parts of our lives and certainly something we can all make better for ourselves. We also have hand-sanitizing products along with our new GoldShield line of products to sanitize every inch of your home, church, office, workplace, school, car, and more. Solutions... At LastGerm.com we are all about solutions to the problems that face us every day. There are so many things that can impact our lives from the food we eat to the homes we live in. LastGerm.com can be your go-to solution for many of the problems that make our homes, offices, workplaces, schools, churches, and any place where people gather. Check us out today!

Pew! Have you ever opened up your fish house, camper, cabin, or even your garage and thought, "What is that awful smell?!" Smells can come from anywhere and from anything, but some smells are worse than others and they don't seem to dissipate even with the windows open! Our noses have the ability to differentiate over 1 trillion different scents! As amazing as it seems it's a fact. While how smell works is an interesting study in itself, we aren't going to get into that in this short blog post. What we will talk about is a simple, yet effective way to get rid of smells in your fish house, camper, cabin, house, garage, or anywhere else odors pop up. Smell Be Gone Wouldn't it be nice if there was a product out there that simply eliminated odors instead of masking them? If that product could be safe for you and your family and your pets, that would be an extra bonus. Well, LastGerm.com has what you are looking for! Here in Minnesota, it is nearing the end of ice fishing season. That means taking the fish house off the lakes and it also means getting rid of that stinky, fishy smell. If you don't clean your fish house before you close it up for the season, well, next winter you could be in for a moldy, mildewy, stinky surprise! Mold doesn't just grow in your house, boat, shed, or camper...it grows all over including your ice house. As we are removing the fish houses, an extra step now can save you a lot of work later. Getting rid of mold takes a lot longer than preventing it! Our Xanigo Marine line of mold prevention products has you covered! It works in your fish house, your boat, your garage, and even your house! Anywhere mold grows, Xanigo Marine products work! Mold and mildew can cause a lot of odor problems for many of us. Even if we don't think mold is hanging around, you would be surprised at where it can sneak in. Our bathrooms can be hot spots for mold. Basements and other places in our homes can be breeding grounds for mold. Get rid of the mold and a majority of foul odors will go away! We also offer Vital Oxide which also works great at getting rid of foul odors. You can check out this article about how we got rid of cat urine smells in a carpet in my house. In a nutshell, however, here are some quick pointers from that article. About Vital Oxide and its odor-eliminating powers Vital Oxide is an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registered product that is a super effective odor eliminator. It is ready to use with no mixing required. In tackling my "cat" odor, I sprayed Vital Oxide right from the bottle all around the room. The smell did not disappear immediately, but within a few hours, it had been nearly eliminated. If you have ever had a cat urine odor in your house, you know that it is a smell that is really hard to get rid of. After a day, the smell no longer existed! Because Vital Oxide is safe, I didn't have to worry about my other pets getting sick from smelling or coming into contact with the product. Easy and effective clean-up Here is the method for cleaning up pet urine and eliminating odor. Whether it's urine, vomit, or droppings, Vital Oxide has the cleaning power to eradicate foul-smelling odors and stubborn stains. 1. To clean urine from carpets or upholstery, use a dry towel to initially blot up as much of the urine as possible, being careful to not rub it in. 2. Then, rinse the area with a bit of hot water to dilute the remaining urine. 3. Repeat the first step to blot up as much of the urine and water as possible. 4. Finally, spray Vital Oxide on the area to eliminate odors and stains. Be sure to use enough of the formula to penetrate the carpet or upholstery fibers and all areas the urine may have penetrated and simply let air dry. A fan can be used to dry the carpet or upholstery faster if needed. Its formula contains a unique form of stabilized chlorine dioxide that is very effective at killing bacteria, viruses, and mold yet non-corrosive to treated articles and gentle enough to handle without causing skin irritation. So, in brief, I won't trust odor elimination to anything else. My health and the health of my family and pets are important enough to trust products in our Vital Oxide and Xanigo Marine lines. You can check out all of the products we have for mold and odor prevention and elimination on our website at: LastGerm.com. If you want to learn more about how Vital Oxide or any of our other products can help you or if you have any questions about odor elimination, you can contact an agent near you. They will be happy to assist you.

There is an old saying that goes something like this, "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush." The basic meaning was that if you had a bird in your possession it was far more valuable than two out in the wild. (I think the price of eggs is an indicator of the truth of that statement!) However, these days keeping your flock healthy and alive can be more of a challenge than ever. Even though we aren't hearing much about the bird flu/avian flu currently, that does not mean it has gone away. No! Far from it. In fact, according to an update on February 15, 2023, from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the bird flu is "alive and well." With nearly 60 million poultry affected by the disease, I think it is safe to say we have a problem. If you are a poultry farmer, you are likely very well aware of the situation. The CDC reports, "Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5) viruses have been detected in U.S. wild aquatic birds, commercial poultry and backyard or hobbyist flocks beginning in January 2022. These are the first detections of HPAI A(H5) viruses in the U.S. since 2016." Since those first detections a little over a year ago, the problem has been flying high! Avian Influenza in Poultry (Domesticated Birds) According to the CDC, "domesticated birds (chickens, turkeys, ducks, etc.) may become infected with avian influenza A viruses through direct contact with infected waterfowl or other infected poultry, or through contact with surfaces that have been contaminated with the viruses. Avian influenza outbreaks in domesticated birds are of concern for several reasons: the potential for low pathogenic avian influenza A(H5) and A(H7) viruses to evolve into highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5) and A(H7) viruses with major agricultural implications the potential for rapid spread and significant illness and death among poultry during outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza the economic impact and trade restrictions from a highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak the possibility that avian influenza A viruses could be transmitted to humans exposed to infected birds When avian influenza A(H5) or A(H7) virus outbreaks occur in poultry, depopulation (or culling, also called “stamping out”) of infected flocks is usually carried out. The loss of an entire flock can be financially devastating for smaller poultry operations. In addition, surveillance of flocks that are nearby or linked to the infected flock(s) and quarantine of exposed flocks with culling if the disease is detected, is the preferred control and eradication methods. See Past Outbreaks of Avian Influenza for more information about avian influenza A virus infections in U.S. poultry. More information about avian influenza in poultry in the United States is available through the United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. Is there hope? Of course, there is! There are so many challenges with Avian Flu and keeping your flock alive and healthy! Locking up the coops and barns...Wearing proper, sanitized clothing...Ensuring no passing of unauthorized animals or humans to the flocks...Spraying with an effective, safe protocol that WORKS... YES - this is where LastGerm can help YOU. We kill down to the very LastGerm! The following video was filmed sanitizing using Vital Oxide and BioProtect. Our new GoldShield and Pure&Clean products are all great for disinfecting any area as well. Keep the flocks alive and thriving! If you have any questions, please contact us and we will make sure you get the information you need to make the best decisions for your flocks. If you have other questions or would like to know more about any of our great products, please contact an agent near you who will be happy to assist you. You can also check out our entire site at: www.lastgerm.com. You will be glad you did!

Protecting your athletes whether you are a coach, a parent, a grandparent, a friend, or an athlete yourself is important. There are many training courses available to help you keep your athletes in top condition physically. From weight training to conditioning, most of our athletes in high schools, colleges, and at the professional level are well-covered. But what about their skin and the issues that can arise from skin conditions like MRSA, impetigo, rashes, athlete's foot, and other skin issues that are common to athletes? Conditions that could keep them out of the game. LastGerm is all about eliminating bacteria on every surface and now that includes your SKIN! Cuts, scrapes, burns, rashes - big or small - now you can be sure that our 2 Step Process using Pure & Clean products is safe and effective to use on everyone, everywhere. From newborns to the elderly, you can rest assured that this simple product will provide you with the ultimate in bacteria control and provide fast recovery times. Check out this video to find out a little bit about Pure&Clean Sports... But why Pure&Clean Sports? As a coach, you want what's best for your athletes. You train them hard and push them to be their best, and you want to make sure they are healthy and safe both on and off the field. ​ One of the most important ways you can keep your athletes safe is by making sure your facilities are clean and free of harmful bacteria and germs. But using harsh chemicals to clean your locker rooms, mats, and equipment can actually do more harm than good, and even put your athletes at risk for infection. ​ Fortunately, there is a safe and effective solution that can help your athletes heal quickly while keeping your facilities clean. So why not give it a try? Your athletes will thank you. Here is more information about the mat cleanser that those involved in wrestling, boxing, gymnastics, and other sports that employ the use of mats should be very interested in. Pure & Clean Sports Mat Cleanser is made for any surface that needs to be effectively cleaned. We’re setting the bar as the only Hypochlorous Acid based Mat Cleanser on the market today. Quit using harsh chemicals to clean the mats. It’s hard on the mat and hard on the athletes. Use Pure & Clean Sports products to help abolish skin issues! Are you still having skin issues on your team? Some coaches say, “no we really don’t have skin issues, just the one or two kids that contract some issue or infection.” Since when did it become okay to have any skin issues from sport? Our mission statement is to abolish skin infection issues. It is NEVER okay for an athlete to miss training or competition due to a skin issue. Pure & Clean Sports Mat Cleanser is made for any surface that needs to be effectively cleaned. We’re setting the bar as the only Hypochlorous Acid based Mat Cleanser on the market today. Quit using harsh chemicals to clean the mats. It’s hard on the mat and hard on the athletes. Use Pure & Clean Sports products help abolish skin issues! Environmental Commitment This product rapidly breaks down entirely to salt water. Not harmful to septic and waste water treatment systems It’s also phosphorous-free and VOC-free. All Natural Ingredients Alcohol-Free No Rinse Formula Phosphorous-Free and VOC-Free Hypochlorous Acid Based Contains No Harmful Chemicals Eco-Friendly SDS Sheet Some Other Facts About Pure&Clean Sports Skin Defense Pure & Clean Sports Skin Defense is intended to be used to help manage skin issues commonly encountered by Athletes. Skin Defense can also be used for cleaning, irrigating, and debriding skin abrasions, lacerations, burns, minor irritations, cuts, and intact skin. Pure & Clean Sports Skin Defense is a one-step, easy-to-use, no mix, no dilution, no rinse solution that helps with common skin issues. Pure&Clean Sports Skin Defense uses oxygenation, which may help to accelerate the recovery of wounds and irritations. The ingredient Hypochlorous Acid (HOCl) is the same chemical used by our white blood cells to fight infections. All ingredients in Pure & Clean Sports Skin Defense are non-toxic and do not harm healthy tissue. There is so much out there that can harm our athletes, so why not give them the best protection possible? Check out all that LastGerm.com has to offer for your athletes! Watch for some special information coming up next week about our Super contest related to the BIG GAME! You will find more information here on our blog and in our newsletter! You can sign up for our newsletter by contacting us at info@lastgerm.com. If you have other questions or would like to know more about any of our great products, please contact an agent near you who will be happy to assist you. You can also check out our entire site at: www.lastgerm.com. You will be glad you did!

Have you ever wondered if fish have teeth? Well, let me tell you from personal experience, they most certainly do! I fish a lot in Minnesota. I have also fished in other states like Michigan and Missouri, but since I live in Minnesota, most of my experience is in Minnesota and the many types of fish that inhabit our lakes, rivers, and ponds. All of the fish that I caught or saw others catch had teeth. Sometimes, I found out the hard way that fish have teeth. But I wondered if all fish have teeth. According to the website Officially Pets, "However, while it may come as a surprise, all fish, regardless of species or whether they live in freshwater or saltwater, have teeth. The only thing is, their teeth aren’t all the same." Interesting... But just because all fish have teeth doesn't mean that they are all the same. Some fish have teeth for eating meat. Others have teeth for eating plants. The fact remains, however, that all fish have some sort of teeth. Ice Fishing Here, in Minnesota, it is ice fishing season. Ice fishing is where you drill a hole in the ice of a lake and use a small fishing rod (specially formatted for ice fishing) to catch fish through the hole you have drilled. I was fascinated with the small pole and the auger. My dad had a hand auger, meaning, we had to drill the hole by hand (similar to the one pictured below). A gas auger, like the one my grandpa had, was a lot more efficient and fast! When I was younger, I liked ice fishing. But later, when I got a little older, I started to get afraid that I would fall through the ice. I guess I watched too many movies where someone fell through the ice and something bad happened to them. Perhaps it is needless to say, but I don't go out on the ice much anymore even though the ice supports the weight of a huge fish house and big pickup trucks! Still, I know that a lot of people really enjoy year around fishing. Well, you might be wondering what all of this has to do with the question, "Do fish have teeth?" Actually, a lot. The fact that fish have teeth makes ice fishing a potential hazard. How does fish having teeth make ice fishing (or any fishing) a potential hazard? Let me explain... Because fish have teeth and fins and some even have stingers, you can get pricked or bitten. Trust me, I don't want a mouthful of walleye teeth sunk into my hand or finger or any other part of my body and neither do you! As was noted above, fish who eat meat (other fish, typically, but sometimes bigger animals or even people) have sharper teeth. They need these to tear the meat from their prey. You can get hurt by these teeth, however, or by a fin or a hook. While fish don't have a lot of defensive weapons, their fins and teeth can give you a reminder that they don't like to be caught or handled. I don't know about you, but the sting of getting a fin jabbed into my hand does not feel good, sometimes for quite a while. According to Officially Pets, "Most animals that you know – humans, cats, dogs – only have teeth in one location: embedded in their jaws. "Fish, however, can have teeth in multiple locations, such as on their lips, mouth, upper and lower jaws, tongue, and even in their throat, which are known as pharyngeal teeth after the pharynx." Well, that's new to me. I didn't know they had teeth in their throats. Not all of them have teeth there, but I don't ever want any part of me far enough into a fish to find out! Be prepared if you get hurt while fishing The best way to not get hurt while fishing is to not go fishing at all! But that wouldn't be any fun! So the best thing you can do is have a good first aid kit. That first aid kit definitely needs to include some of our Pure&Clean products that are great at cleaning and healing wounds. These gentle yet highly effective products include a first aid spray and a hydrogel spray which can work wonders on any wound. If you get bit or a fin punctures your skin or a hook gets embedded in you instead of the fish, these products can not only take the sting and the pain out of the wound, but they can also help keep you from getting an infection. Check out this information: Hypochlorous Acid (HOCl) (in the hydrogel) is a naturally occurring chemical that is produced by our neutrophils, or white blood cells, to fight bacteria and inflammation after an infection or trauma ​ HOCl provides a unique power to eradicate dangerous organisms while not causing harm to our cells ​ HOCl is one of the only agents that are both nontoxic to delicate cells that can heal our wounds while being lethal to almost all known dangerous bacteria and viruses that threaten our health ​ Our quality ingredients and unique process produce an unmatched product. This is proven by our HOCl industry-best 24-month (not impacted by opening) FDA-cleared shelf life on all of our FDA-cleared products. In fact, the only two ingredients in our hydrogel are electrolyzed salt water and Hypochlorous Acid. This is pH balanced to maintain efficacy for up to two years. And it won't become bleach because some other hydrogels on the market do that. • Non-Cytotoxic (heals without harming healthy cells) • DIY Skin Protection • An environmentally friendly product • Doctor and Pharmacist Recommended • Works to manage the wound and skin, frequent and regular applications will help accelerate the process and return your skin back to its normal healthy state. • Simple to use: Just spray it on! • Contains no antibiotics, no steroids, and no alcohol for a sting-free first-aid product! • Promotes health and wellness • Manages wounds and skin with positive results • Spray all intact skin including hands Enjoy fishing! You can enjoy fishing knowing that you are protected. Be safe in any type of fishing and follow the rules. They are there to protect you. Remember to keep your Pure&Clean First Aid Spray and Hydrogel with you even when you are not fishing! If you have other questions or would like to know more about any of our great products, please contact an agent near you who will be happy to assist you. You can also check out our entire site at: www.lastgerm.com. You will be glad you did!