The No. 1 preventive measure against the swine flu is getting vaccinated, but we all know how that's going. So what's a parent, school principal or business owner to do?

Fancy advertisements using scientific terms or doctors with impressive résumés would have us believe we need to send our kids to day care with snot-catching wristbands, zap our desks with UV-C light wands, don disposable mittens in restrooms and stock sinks with oregano oil soap.

Dr. Steven Lawrence, assistant professor of infectious diseases at Washington University, said these products are overkill and in many cases, modern-day versions of snake oil.

"Whenever there is a health event, particularly involving an infectious disease, there's going to be a market for people selling outlandish stuff," Lawrence said.

With the new H1N1 flu spreading across the population, companies are selling everything from stroller signs reminding people to keep their dirty hands off the baby to catchy songs teaching kids about good hygiene. Many products claim to help prevent people from getting sick.

"Swine flu proof your building now before the pandemic panic," states a press release from the founder of a nationwide cleaning company, Varsity Contractors. "Where we live, work, eat and play — as well as schools — need an extra level of protection to fill the gap between routine cleanings."

Varsity Contractors will apply an "anti-microbial surface coating" on common touch points that claim to keep them germ-free for 90 days.

Lawrence said that cleaning surfaces is the least important of preventive measures, because flu viruses survive no longer than two to eight hours, depending on the surface. More importantly, he said, wash your hands and keep them off your face.

"Someone sneezing or coughing and saturating a surface and then somebody putting their hand in it and putting their finger deep inside their nose — that scenario doesn't happen often," Lawrence said.

Donna Duberg, assistant professor of clinical laboratory science at St. Louis University, recommends keeping disinfectant wipes in your pocket or purse. Standard cleaning products do just fine at home, schools or offices.

'STICK TO WHAT WORKS'

Be wary of products that don't offer any data or studies to back up their claims, Lawrence said. "Stick to what does work rather than spending a lot of money on something that might."

What works is avoiding people who are sick, since the flu is mainly spread person-to-person by droplets in the air from a sneeze or cough. Wash hands often — with regular soap and warm water for at least 15 seconds — and don't touch the T-zone (eyes, nose and mouth).

Ultraviolet light wands and air-purification systems ranging from $60 to $200 claim to ease swine flu worries by killing airborne and surface germs. Some hospitals use UV light to kill germs that can travel long distances, Lawrence said, "but the flu does not transmit like that ... sanitizing the air with UV light has very little usefulness for the flu."

Duberg said you must be next to people when they sneeze because the droplets quickly settle. How close? "A good sneeze goes maybe 3 to 5 feet," she said.

NOXO Anti-Flu spray claims to have an answer to that. Spraying it over your head will create an "airborne barrier" that helps keep influenza's microorganisms from entering your nose and mouth, according to its advertisement. It's made of a blend of natural plant oils, some of which can kill germs. A 1-ounce bottle sells for $7.95.

COUGH IN YOUR ELBOW

Just because something works on a surface doesn't mean it can catch ultra-tiny viruses in the air, Lawrence said. "It's not like a permanent fog that stays in front of your nose to prevent it from going into your nostrils."

To keep from being a virus launch pad, people are encouraged to hack into their elbows. Items like Germy Wormy disposable sleeves ($25 for 25 sleeves and a DVD) promote proper cough etiquette among kids while also claiming "an added benefit of protecting clothes and lets you toss germs not wash them!"

Sending clothes through the washer kills the virus, Lawrence said. And, "catching the flu from contaminated clothing is exceedingly unlikely if possible at all."

The claims can be confusing. They play on consumers' lack of knowledge and fear — H1N1 has killed more than 1,000 people, 100 of whom were children.

People also prefer a quick fix over all the avoiding, washing and disposing, Duberg said. "You want to buy one product for the entire house to do that. You want to flip on a light."