We’ve (almost) all come to the conclusion that a pandemic is inevitable. We’ve discussed what to do, how to prep, whether or not we’ll be able to SIP for long periods. Now, what personal habits, known and unknown, will you try to break?
This may take some thought on each individual’s part…not everyone is aware of what they do each and every minute of every day. Things like rubbing/scratching your eyes or nose (where have your hands been?), grabbing the gas pump without gloves, picking up a telephone that others may have access to. During a pandemic, some things like this will undoubtedly be passe, as most of us won’t want to be anywhere near a store or crowds of any kind. But inevitably, the virus could be picked up in the most inocuous of ways.
This thought occured to me yesterday as I was buying gas. I grabbed hold of the fuel nozzle without even thinking, then realized that I wouldn’t do this without gloves if gas were available during a pandemic. Then I walked over without even thinking and picked up the window-wash squeegee. It was then that I started thinking about daily habits that we don’t normally think about in our day-to-day lives.
Think about it. Go through your day tomorrow and make a mental note of all the things you do that could possible open you up to viral exposure.
Bronco Bill
You’ve been reading my mind. I was having dinner out and picked up the salt shaker…realized all the “potential”.
Trying to work out a plan where I only touch myself or food with my left hand…then my dominate right hand is free to open doors, touch things, ect.
Also the belt attach hand purifer with the refillable dispenser is sounding better to me…now if I could just remember that web site. I know I got it from FW…so if anyone remembers let me know.
This is way harder than it looks.
Couple of weeks ago I put a hand sanitizer pump on the dash of my car, and am trying hard to make it a habit to use it when ever I come out of a store/- been doing pretty well,-but you know, I filled my gas tank this morning and never thought about the pump….(sigh)
I started a thread about this a long time ago……some survey somewhere said rgat the copy machine at work is the most common place germs are spread……buttons, paperclips, stapler…it goes on and on.
I started carrying a pencil to push buttons at the ATM machine.I use only the eraser end on the machine and grab hold of only the lead end.
Bronco Bill.
First, it is great to have you back. I hope everything with the move went well.
Second, if you believe like I do, that SIP won’t work for 99.99% of the population…then, in my opinion, you have hit on one of the two key issues…the other being effective masks.
Many thanks for bringing attention to this issue.
That ‘belt hand sanitizer’ gadget was featured on ‘Dragons Den’ a new CBC reality program where some rich ‘dragons’ will invest in entrepreneurial ideas if the entrepreneur manages to impress them well enough - I searched CBC website to try to find a link to the 3 brothers who invented the gadget - but no luck - They are Canadian and one of the brothers is an MD at a famous US hospital - maybe ?Johns Hopkins or somewhere - did anybody else catch it?? I think it is a terrific invention (course they did ‘win’ the contest and the dragons gave them a pile of $$$!!!) wish we could find them in drug stores - seemed like they are mainly selling to hospitals?
My wife and I have been using hand sanitizer since the time of SARS. We eat out in casino buffets constantly, and other resturants, and we never touch anything first without using hand hand sanitizer (HS) after touching something. As we have been doing this routtine for more than a year and a half,,,and have taught others also that eat with us,,,,we are in tune to this system. I play also slot machine at the casino, and if I have an itch on my face, I pull out the HS first, before scratching. This is a habit with us now, but certainly did take some time to get used to it. When shopping, and using a push cart, when we are done (again never touching our eyes, nose or mouth while shopping (unless we use the HS first), when we get to the car, and empty the cart, and put it away, out comes the HS again. Another thing (that I get kidded about), is that I am an aid on either the handicap bus or the preschool bus for the local school district,,,,and as soon as the kids are off the bus,,,,out comes the HS and I do my hands. After I get off the bus I use the HS again. For those that are new at this,,,,be very counsious of your hand movements, and get into the habit, of using HS after touching something (hey if Howard Hughs did it so can we,,,)
BB:
Never thought of the gas pump. My downfall is coffee pot handles at work. I grab a papertowel and then pour. But sometimes when I’m tired, I just reach.
I keep hand sanitizer in my car, when I get back in I pump. ALso antisceptic wipes to wipe the door handle and steering wheel. I instituted this last year, I didn’t get a SINGLE COLD all winter for the first time in a long time.
My bad habit tho is rubbing my eyes. Even with glasses I do it. Have a friend who in the winter wears contacts less so he, in glasses, is more concious of eye-rubbing…tho that sounds extreme he gets sick easily and misses work, so can’t afford to take the chance.
Hopefully when I rub my eyes at least my hands will be clean.
What will get me is working in someone else home, which I do a few times a week. They blow their nose or wipe kids nose, don’t wash hands, touch the table cabinet phone etc…I can’t help being exposed. Drag. Alot of people don’t wash hands after blowing nose in the privacy of there own home…unfortunately that means I get to share their germs. Sometimes I santitize surfaces (phone, handles, light switches)when I work in a home (I work with kids sometimes do light cleaning so this wouldn’b be bizarre). I have read in some place that it is “impossible” to keep surfaces clean if someone has a cold, ie so don’t bother it won’t work…but I have anecdotal evidence that it does help when I work in other peoples homes and someone is sick and I clean places I might touch.
Ironically, if I get a cold myslef, I cannot work (will get them sick) and won’t be paid…but I digress….
I have seen a small bottle of Purell that is designed to dangle from a clip, like to clip on a belt. I think I saw it in Walgreens….that would be convenient, maybe similar to the MD”s invention mentioned above.
I keep hand sanitizer in the van & the moment we get back in the kids and I all slather ourselves in it. One daughter in particular was a bit resistant when I first started last year…until we got a clerk who stopped ringing purchases, blew her nose, coughed like she was about to die, and then finished ringing our food through. (!) The girls were so horrified that they have never complained again (and we put the santizer all over the milk jug handles, food pkgs, etc that time, ick.) The moment we walk back in the door, even having used sanitizer, we all go and wash our hands before doing anything else.
The stores in my hometown in Colorado (biggies like WalMart, Albertson’s, etc) also have a station by the entrance with free antibacterial wipes for cart handles. I wish they would do that here! Until they do, I have begun taking a wipe in with me; there’s almost always a trashcan by the front door so we just wipe down the cart, toss the used wipe, and head in.
The thing that just gives me the heebie-jeebies (technical PF term, lol) is the keypad at the checkout counter. I like the idea of taking my own pencil that someone else mentioned!
We also have to really watch touching our faces, especially itchy noses and eyes in this land of perpetual allergens.
What I really need to work on is getting dh to do the same when he’s dealing with his univ. classes of 250+ students, so that he doesn’t catch anything and bring it home!!
I am the manager of a small call center, and because of certian software issues, ALL the employees must clock in using MY computer. I have wiped those keys down so many times the letters are gone. I have been using those finger cots to keep germs off of me and they serve as a great reminder not to touch my face and eyes.
We must share phones at times, so I have provided every one with sanitizing wipes and hand sanitizer. We reconfigured the seating and now have a full 12 to 15 feet between the operators. We spray each station and common area daily.
In spite of all this, last week, we lost 59 hours to sick time. Yep, everybody caught the bug. Sigh…
I have a head cold right now so I must not be doing something right. (smile-cough cough) Everytime I get sick-which is often with two small children I think about what bad habits I have. When my mother had leukemia she had all sorts of tricks for being in a crowd and not touching anything. There must be web sites for those with compromised immune systems in which this is discussed.
gharris – at 00:03 I saw the belt sanitizer in one of my journals and have talked to them a couple times. Best idea for HCW’s I have seen in quite a while. I have gotten bulk pricing from them. Around $20 for one. comes with 4 refilable inserts. Thought about putting together a Fluwiki deal but I realize this is a no-no here. Any ideas how to get around this?
the thread was “Worthwhile New Product” a couple weeks ago
The time to acquire hygienic behaviour is now, before a pandemic starts. I have been careful since long before SARS and H5N1 because of my places of work and my country of residence. If I have to push on something I use a knuckle instead of the tip of a finger. To open doors, I use an elbow if possible. It is possible to open and close water taps with the palm of your hand, not your finmgers. I don’t let other people use my phone or cellphone. If someone visits with a cold, I disinfect all the things that the visitor has touched, including doorknobs. Nobody enters our home without taking their shoes off. Whenever a family member or an employee comes in, they have to wash hands before anything else.
For you face touchers. Having been in HC for many years, I kinda just learned that everything I lay my hands on is only 2 or 3 degrees of separation from one of the human orifices. Not hard to remember not to touch when put in those terms.
Teaching kids to wash all the time and not touch their mouths, faces, etc. is very important. My son’s class just did an experiment where they put that glow-in-the-dark stuff in the room then watched how it spread all over the clssroom. Then they had to “wash” their hands (in quotes because we know how well kids do that!). Then they turned off the lights again - most hands weren’t too bad but a big problem area was around the finger nails. And kids are always putting their fingers in their mouths, even older ones, biting their nails, etc. I am really bad about biting cuticles. Maybe my nails will finally look decent it I stopped?
Tom DVM – at 22:41 if you believe like I do, that SIP won’t work for 99.99% of the population … then, in my opinion, you have hit on one of the two key issues … the other being effective masks.
If that’s indeed the case (and I believe it is) then prepping is not for SIPping, but for being resilient in the face of supply disruption.
Prepping not for SIPping - hmm. Would prepping be done differently then?
I’m tempted to start a new thread, but not sure: has this been discussed already? Where?
I believe we should replace old habits with a new one?
But what?
teaching kids to wash their hands when they get home from school. is a very good habit. we did not think of this, until last month. Daughter takes the HS to school, whether she uses it or not, I can’t be sure. she says she does. the last thing I said to her this morning as she was getting out of the car, was “keep your hands clean!” Mothers. you gotta love us.
It just seems to me that the only way to solve this is to wear the gloves for the entire time we are in public. Excluding restruants, ect. I wish they had designer looking latex gloves. then everyone would wear them becase they would look cool, and this would not be the major issue that it is. It is sad that is the mentality of people. I’m just going to have to wear the uncool ones. When I get back to my car, take them off, so I don’t contaminate the door handles. Put on a fresh pair for the next store. It seems like such a hassle, but a habit is “second nature.”
Lugon,
The reason that SIP will not work for most is because something will drive them from their homes. If not hunger, then toilet paper, diapers, medicine, cabin fever, ignorance, et cetera. However, really thorough prepping, both physically and emotionally, can help to prevent this. Unfortunately, far too many people lack the financial resources, the physical space, the knowledge, and the fortitude to be as prepared as Flu Wikians.
In our home we are trying to develop a new awareness of just how finite all of our resources are, including our preps. We hate to envision TEOTWAWKI, but what if a one year supply of everything is not enough? What if the survivors really will be thrust back into 19th century conditions? These visions are helping us to break our old habits of being complacent and comfortable. Regardless of the outcome from this one, it is likely that our children will face a second pandemic in their lifetimes— or something far worse. With this realization, we are learning a deeper level of humility. We are learning to be more conservative with our resources, We are learning to be far more appreciative of every healthy moment.
I think that the good habits have started already. Conserve. Savor. Persevere.
Cottontop: A quick question?
Do you think your daughter could learn a new habit…especially for Pandemics.
Do you think she could learn to wash her hands twice. You know, when she washes her hands, just to wash them again…too make sure.
This would form a habit of washing better, wouldn’t it? It would atleast form the habit of washing more often, would it not?
(She might look at you strange…but she wouldn’t forget the advice, would she?)
Lack of toliet paper would definately make me leave my house!! (let’s start the day with a laught)
I totally agree with Dr. Dave.
I agree, most people will not SIP. I have been trying to touch less things. I keep my hand near the stair rail when using the stairs, but I won’t touch it. ( I do this in case I trip, and then I will of course to prevent a fall) I work in a school, so I try not to put my hands near my face until I wash up. I also try to push doors open in places that people might not. You know, most people push in the same place, I’ll go higher up or lower down.
I notice that I automatically use the edge of my palm when I awake in the nite. (My eyes water when I lie down. I am so aware of this that I clean my hands before bedtime, and its the first thought when I reach up to my eyes, even half asleep. I don’t do as much during the day in hand cleanliness because I do avoid touching nose or eyes. After a year of being hyperaware it has become a habit.
I have a few thoughts I would like to share.
I know family that for many years home schooled, then they decided to send the oldest to school. The entire family spent much of the year sick. Because for them it was their first exposure to many ills that the rest of the school kids had already gained immunity to.
If your child is in day care they are sick all the time at first, then after a while their immune system is strengthened from the work outs and from aquired immunities. They become healthy adults.
New studies show that LACK of exposure to various grems actually increases your suceptability to alergies.
I do not think it is necessarly a bad thing to get sick once in a while. Just be sure you eat right and get vitamins and some sun exposure so that your body has the ammunition it needs to fight.
I do not think SIP will really work, but I am hoping it will give me a little time. I am prepping some, but I think the ones who will be left standing after this thing will be the ones who survived it or have been unwittingly innoculated from it, by being exposed to a weakend virus. I am hoping that it looses some of its virulence as it goes and I plan on limiting my exposure in the begining. I do not however think I will be able to avoid it forever.
My #1 preps are the things I plan on using to fight it; vitamins, herbal remidies, anti-histimines, fruit juice, some OTC medicines.
A cousin of mine sent this info in one of those ‘round robin’ type e-mails — makes a lot of sense to me and should be helpful — I don’t have an original source — it was very long, so I just have copied some primary points here ---
“Dirty purses: A sanitary health problem…!!!
Have you ever noticed gals who sit their purses on public restroom floors - that go directly to their dining tables? Happens a lot! It’s not always the ‘restaurant food’ that causes stomach distress….”
“I put my purse in grocery shopping carts, on the floor of bathroom stalls while changing a diaper….
“Most women told us they didn’t stop to think about what was on the bottom of their purse. Most said they usually set their purses on top of kitchen tables and counters where food is prepared.
“It turns out purses are so surprisingly dirty, even the microbiologist who tested them was shocked…. Nelson Labs says nearly all of the purses tested were not only high in bacteria, but high in harmful kinds of bacteria.
Pseudomonas can cause eye infections, staphylococcus aurous can cause serious skin infections, and salmonella and e-coli found on the purses could make people very sick. In one sampling, four of five purses tested positive for salmonella, and that’s not the worst of it. “There is fecal contamination on the purses,”
“Leather or vinyl purses tended to be cleaner than cloth purses, and lifestyle seemed to play a role. People with kids tended to have dirtier purses than those without, with one exception. The purse of one single woman who frequented nightclubs had one of the worst contaminations of all. “Some type of feces, or even possibly vomit ….
“…Experts say you should think of your purse the same way you would a pair of shoes. “If you think about putting a pair of shoes onto your countertops, that’s the same thing you’re doing when you put your purse on the countertops”
“The microbiologists at Nelson also said cleaning a purse will help. Wash cloth purses and use leather cleaner to clean the bottom of leather purses.
I’m thinking thank goodness I usually leave the house with a small coin purse with credit card slots in my pockets — but when I do take bags (or even luggage!!!) somewhere, the bottoms will be wiped off before they come in the house ---
The source of heddiecalifornia’s information was a story broadcast by a Fox affiliate TV station in Cleveland on 3 May 2006 and re-broadcast by numerous Fox stations in the U.S. The round-robin email was vetted by snopes.com and determined to be true.
I read this myself back in May. It was discussed here. Since then I often leave my bag in my car, with a bit of cash and my cell phone in my jeans. Since losing my car keys, with the possibility of someone stealing both the car and the things in my purse (checkbook, credit cards, phone books, I have changed my mind. I can afford a few germs, I can’t afford to lose the things in my purse. Might be time to do what heddie in California does. My purses carry everything from passports on up. Could leave the country in the blink of an eye.
Way back in my college days, I took a Microbiology class. One of our lab projects was to put culture dishes in various places around the building and see what kind of bugs we collected. To our surprise-but not our professor’s-we picked up the most bugs in the stairwell and in the common areas of the building. We thought we’d pick up a lot of bugs in the bathroom, but hardly any free floating bugs there. Most were on the surfaces that were swabbed.
What that experiment taught me was that public areas were to be avoided if I didn’t want to be exposed to everyone else’s bugs and to be careful about touching anything. Those lessons stood me in good stead when I was undergoing chemotherapy and my immune system was gone. Those few times I went out into public, I made sure I was extra careful.
But my bad habit I’ll have to break? Hay fever often causes an itchy nose for me. I’ll have to remember not to rub it to stop the itch.
thanks for identifying the source, Dennis.
Diana — can you put your purse in the trunk of your car? One of the reasons I only take a coin purse/card holder with me is because once I had my purse taken/lost/stolen (never did find what happened to it, but suspect it was taken as I came out of a store with a lot of groceries one Christmas Eve --- and I spent so much time/$ and so on replacing everything in it I thought “Never again!” Eyeglasses, makeup, swiss army knife, licenses, work ID, credit cards, cash, I was out over 500.00 dollars to replace it all —
When my daughter was a baby, I used to use my ski pack belt as a purse — strapped around me, it was always really handy.
Anyhow, though, the thought has occurred to me that it’s great to have BOTH hands free when out and about — except that then I can get BOTH hands dirty!! heh heh.
Actually, for a long time, I have been wanting to sew myself a nice ‘travel vest’ --- there are some patterns by a small sewing pattern maker for travel clothes — jackets, skirts, and vests that have both visible and hidden pockets throughout that would make it unnecessary to carry a bag even on a plane. Pockets for every necessity, except, of course, a laptop.
Texas Rose — yep, I have the exact same problem with allergies and an itchy nose. I have tried out a couple of ‘anti itch’ creams and so on. Tried hydrocortisone 1% applied all around and up my nostrils at the same time I put moisturizer on in the morning. Works a couple of hours. Gold Bond cream also works, but it leaves a kind of Eucalyptus ointment sting. Chromacrom nasal spray helps. Vicks vapo rub and plain vaseline also work for a little while. Also, eyedrops for allergy eyes (put in the eyes) also seems to relieve some of the nose itching as well . All of above have to be reapplied after a couple of hours. Benedryl tablets seem to dry my nose out and make the itching actually worse.
If I had that vest, I could put in handy pockets for wet wipes, disinfecting wipes, kleenex tissues, etc. and etc. and be prepared all day!
I plan protective sequestration, not SIP.
Having to go out for something kinda defeats the social distancing aspect.
Of course there are always emergencies as an exception.
I got into the habit of both the liberal use of hand sanitizer, and not touching anything near a mucous membrane during SARS.
I did a fun “teachable moment” with my fire department when I did the pandemic flu presentation using the black light powder. Made a believer out of them when everyone got lighted at the end :-)
For those of you that go to restaurants think about the server who is filling your coffe cup. My companys policy is to fill the cup away from the table. So for every cup they pick up who knows what they are spreading around, only takes one person in the place to be sick and she/he has spread it to everyone. I have been telling my servers not to pick up the cups, just be careful in filling them. I could be fired for this but at least I may have kept someone from getting sick. My servers do wash hands after making table rounds but the risk is still there for customers.
I had an ‘ah ha’ moment today when I took Mom to a follow up at the hospital- everybody presses those elevator buttons!(Even when they are already lit, LOL). Maybe along with hand sanitizer we should all carry around surface disinfectant.
I have never sat my purse on the restroom floor, mainly for security reasons. don’t need some next door neightbor snatching my purse, and poof, she’s gone. I always hang it on the door hanger.
I think I’ll take Heddies suggestion. I have some quilted vests with zippered pockets. Now that its cold I’ll leave the house with a few things in my pocket. I’m something of a rolling stone and am likely to go anywhere on a whim, but I have slowed down in the last few years. The key episode made me think. The people at the dealership asked if I wanted the car disabled until new keys were made up. I said no. They asked wasn’t I worried that someone was walking around with my keys, I said I wouldn’t be shopping in that particular place ever again so wasn’t concerned…… There are a couple of fast food outlets which have hired people who have very greasy hair, bad habits of putting their fingers in their mouth, twirling their hair and putting that in their mouth.Sloppy people whose hands and nails look unwashed may be no worse than I am, but I want to have the illusion that they washed their hands..
Well I finally got to this thread and skimmed through it with the perspective of a newbie.
My thoughts: “What an interesting collection of Germophobics!” 8-D
Or how about “All the germs think I’m paranoid!”
It is one of the prime things being suggested to avoid illness in all the panphlets and literature.
diana – at 17:37 If you post was for me, I think you don’t realize that I’m being self depreciating also and sarcastic. My ‘Cologne’ is Hand Sanitizer!
Bill you bring up an excellent point we all touch things all the time without ever thinking about it. Then we touch our face, our clothes, car steering wheel, our sandwhich. No wonder colds spread so easily.
I use hand sanitizer everywhere. I keep it in my purse, in my work van, in my pocket at rabbit shows. I give small bottles of it to people all the time. I use it even after I have washed my hands in a public restroom.
No,JWB. I think all of us remember Howard Hughes and his shuffling around in Empty Kleenex Boxes. I usually am of the you eat a peck of dirt in your lifetime school, and haveing been a healthy person who had built up immunity by exposure, but we are facing something a bit more catastrophic, so a lifetime of being exposed to a lot of sick people is now been somewhat altered. I used to look on others habits with less revulsion. Now I feel a little disgusted when I see food handlers who seem to have no concept of what they look like to the customer.
Who was the genius who designed all the paper towel dispensers in public restrooms that require that I press a lever with my just-washed hand to get a sheet of toweling?
I can’t reach it with my elbow!!!!
Timber, That fits the title of this thread perfectly. You have to break your old habit and get the paper towel before you wash your hands. Not easy to remember at first (and yes, people will look strangely at you!) :-)
We had this discussion at the gym today because of the new super bug (forget the name) being caught in these environments. We decided that wiping down equipment with the sanitizers beforehand would reduce our risk.
I do think we have to change our day to day actions to reduce the risk.
For example Don’t eat out -Food handling can not be seen in the kitchen so quit eating out then you control your food intake.
Don’t stay in hotels, motels or B&B or hostels. -the bedcovers and pillows are really filthy even if they look pristine. How many people have slept with those pillows? blankets? covers? without any cleaning in between? You could take your own blanket, pillow etc but how many are willing to do that.
Don’t read shared newspapers in coffeeshops. -I was recently amazed to see a lady probably in her 50′s reading the coffee shop copy of the newspaper & was almost elbow deep into picking her nose. I was shocked.
Stay out of taxis -you can’t imagine what filth you are exposed to not just by your hands.
Stay out of theatres or any other large gathering if possible- those seats are disgusting-ever see the theatre with the lights on full- you’d be sick if you did.
Assume the last person that touched that pillow, handle or whatever just vomited in their hands & are now touching that item. I do think that people have become very lax, ignorant or just don’t care about those that come after them. You have to assume the worst.
Bronco Bill, here is an email that I sent to my son last month. It is all about sanitation habits. It may be a bit earthy, but it seems appropriate.
Oliver,
As we approach cold and flu season, I have some suggestions that can help you stay healthy.
Wash your hands often. Wash your hands after shaking hands with someone. Wash your hands before you go to bed. Be especially aware of the condition of your hands before you touch your face. Whatever germs, bacteria, or viruses are present on your hands can be transferred to your mouth, nostrils, and eyes. Your head is full of holes and these holes are easy access points. From there, it is merely a matter of incubation.
Never suck in the stuff that is in your nose. Blow it out and then wash your hands. Remember that your nostrils act as air filters, so you don’t want to defeat the purpose by deliberately ingesting the crud they are trying to keep out. People are constantly blasting bacteria and viruses into the air when they cough or sneeze. It may get into your nose, but you can blow it out again.
Campus life will put you at risk for contracting whatever is going around, so be aware of such things as doorknobs, serving spoons, bathroom counters, shopping carts, gas pumps, etc. In fact, any surface that can be touched by another human will always have bacteria on it. If one of those humans was sick with a cold, flu, or hepatitis, it could also have a virus on it.
At the cafeteria, avoid eating with your fingers. Your fingers have been touching serving utensils that were handled by other people, so when you use your hands to pick up food, such as pizza, anything that was on the serving utensils could be transferred from your fingers to your pizza and then right into your mouth. Either wash your hands after filling your plate, or use a knife and fork to prevent contamination of your food.
Do you remember when we saw someone licked their fingers at the Old Country Buffet? As far as colds, flu, hepatitis, AIDS, and e. coli are concerned, that is the equivalent of licking the fingers of all the people who eat there— and some of them don’t wash their hands after using the restoom, which really does introduce the possibility of contracting e. coli. It does, after all, occur naturally in vast quantities in human fecal matter.
Here are some questions: Earlier this month, did a field worker defecate in a portable toilet, then return to picking spinach without washing his hands? Did some of the spinach he picked come into contact with the packaging company’s rinse water? Did that rinse water then distribute e. coli bacteria to millions of spinach leaves? Did hundreds of unsuspecting people then eat those raw leaves that were teeming with the e. coli that came from the field worker’s asshole? Literally speaking, the bacteria had to come from somewhere. So, what do you think?
Is there anyone in the cafeteria line in front of you who did not wash his or her hands after their last trip to the bathroom? Yikes! What’s on those utensils, anyway?
If you really need to touch your face, but you simply can not wash your hands first, use a clean tissue or a napkin and then throw it away. If someone in a classroom is coughing and sneezing, cover your nose and mouth with a clean tissue to avoid inhaling any airborne droplets that might make you sick.
I don’t want you to be paranoid about this. I just want you to be cautious. I’m about as cautious as anyone can be, yet I still get a sniffle or two.
On that cheery note, have great summer day. Autumn begins tomorrow.
Dad
MAV in Colorado – at 05:01
Thought about putting together a Fluwiki deal but I realize this is a no-no here. Any ideas how to get around this?
There is currently a Fluwiki “group-deal” being worked out on canned butter, cheese etc. It looks like there is a way “to get around”. I forgot the exact threat title, but it’s pretty obvious, something like “Join the canned butter group deal.” Let me check…
found it:
Join in with Group Buying for Canned Butter Cheese and MR Es
thanks o-b, I’ve been following that one as well. I will put it to the company and see what they say. It’s all about the numbers. The internal work required to process a $10 item is pretty much the same as for a $100 item so even with volume there is less margin. We’ll see what they say
you are right that habits have to be changed if a pandemic, And time to change is now for a number of them. But I realy think some of the practice going on here is to way out. And it may also actualy end up damgaging our collective heath. I´m talking about resistance in germs, and that is a very serious issue, This may be the result of som desifnectants and products that contains antibiotics. It is also not a very good mental hygiene to worry to much about germs, and remeber that someone is making a proffit for this types of “artifical” needs….
“Dousing everything we touch with antibacterial soaps and taking antibiotic medications at the first sign of a cold can upset the natural balance of microorganisms in and around us, leaving behind only the ‘superbugs’.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antibacterial_soap
Udar - normally I would totally agree with you. I am careful in my daily habits, but not overboard. I certainly have plenty of sli-ups. As much as I wish my kids washed their hands more often, they don’t. I also don’t over sanitize our house and only run the AC if it is unberably hot - fresh air is best. I also beleive in developing a strong immune system. BUT, if there is H5N1 going around and I have to go out, I’ll use everyone of the tricks in this thread and then some!
Dr Dave – at 19:02 --- Very good email. More people than just college students should read and heed!
orange-brown – at 19:08 --- ?
JWB – at 17:16 --- So true…and Howard Hughes does come to mind…
Urdar-Norway – at 21:17 --- Resistance to germs can be a bad thing, but my thought was to get folks to look and learn about their daily habits in order to fend off any virii that may come along with a pandemic. To temporarily rid ourselves of germs and viruses I think won’t hurt us a bit. They will survive long after we are all gone…
Dr Dave – at 19:02 --- Very good email. More people than just college students should read and heed!
orange-brown – at 19:08 --- ?
JWB – at 17:16 --- So true…and Howard Hughes does come to mind…
Urdar-Norway – at 21:17 --- Resistance to germs can be a bad thing, but my thought was to get folks to look and learn about their daily habits in order to fend off any virii that may come along with a pandemic. To temporarily rid ourselves of germs and viruses I think won’t hurt us a bit. They will survive long after we are all gone…
Oops. Double-clicked. Oh well.
Urdar-Norway, my post should read: Resistance in germs…
I consider us Fluwikians to be the figurehead of society in a few ways. We’re considering and doing things most people are not doing. I believe some of our experience may become valuable for others later.
So I have a practical question: Just how hard to break are old habits? How long between deciding to sneeze in a certain way and the action becoming a habit?
I ask this because it may have practical implications. If it takes a week, then education has to start very rapidly. More rapidly than if it takes just a day.
Also welcome would be some “tricks” to acquire habits faster. I remember when I was taught how to drive a car, my teacher made me keep the window half closed, so I never got into the habit of placing my elbow there. Now I don’t ever do it, not even if the window is fully open.
All of this would then go into a wiki-page, etc. Just suggesting! :-)
Heh - reading another entry I looked at a blog and I found this piece about teaching patients with low literacy skills.
Children have low literacy skills. Interesting to teach through dancing rather than reading, no?
The book can be read and downloaded here: http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/healthliteracy/doak.html
Maybe it should go into “resources” somewhere?
I discovered a visualization that helped me. I very ocassionaly have to clean cartridges that carry laboratory samples from the nursing floors to the lab in hospitals. They travel at a high rate of speed and occassionally the sample vials get shattered. If I am cleaning this (rarer now :), I usually do it to get others to do it when training), I can get contaminated blood and fluids up to my elbows. I grew up in a very poor area, open sewage, dumped garbage, dead animals, so it doesn’t freak me out. Rationaly, I am primarily concerned with getting these substances in an open wound or my eyes/nose but its easy to start forgetting even in extreme stiuations when your in a hurry, tired, uncomfortable position, etc. But I did notice, whenever there were tiny glass pieces from the vials mixed in, my awareness stayed very high with no effort. So now, I simply imagine potential areas of infection are littered with tiny, tiny pieces of sharp shards of glass, whether its a pay phone, cart, door. The thought of NOT getting those in my eyes, nose, etc is very compelling, and does increase my patience with hand washing for adequate time in day to day life, to get ALL the little, invisible, pieces off. My primitive mind apparently understands that image!
lugon – at 04:13 Also welcome would be some “tricks” to acquire habits faster.
I’m going to try this: put on a laytex glove and paint orange “nails” and “fingerprints” on it and wear it all day to see how often I mess up without thinking. I had 6 cats until recently, now 4, but I still wash my hands 30 times a day…..we’ll see how I do with the glove.
Well, the paint (neon nail polish) would help me see my fingers before they reach eyes, mouth, etc.
I’m-workin’-on-it – at 07:42 --- Do make sure the nail paint dries completely before you rub your nose with the glove!! ;-) ‘specially with neon nail polish!!
Spirit in the Wind: Cleaning your keyboard would be a lot easier with a keyboard skin like this one:
http://www.hooleon.com/menu-protection.htm
The print on the keys would be protected from wearing off too.
I have long nails, and they are pearly pink. You would be suprised how quickly they get gook under them. I only use a nail brush at nite. I carry a towlette to flush the John. I think the toilets handle would be the most contaminated, and like those that automatically flush without hand contact, but not all do. I think I got more illnesses when first I began to be more careful, but now I seem to be healthier, outside of occular migraines probably brought on by aged cheese and a glass of wine everyday. We have become more careful, but there is no way to live in a bubble if you are out and about all day as I am. I will come into contact with germs no matter how careful I am. I shake hands, I interact, I go to theaters and hotels. Though the one I prefer has a fresh ironed white coverlet rather than one of those heavy bed covers, so it is no problem. I usually put a clean towel on any upholstered chair when not dressed. We can’t predict what we come into contact with, all we can do is keep our immune systems primed and have reasonably sanitary habits.
I know I posted this somewhere sometime ago but fits this thread: Short version: Old training video showing sterile environment (operating room or medical lab etc.) One of the people in the scene contaminates themselves by touching something un-sterile and the area of contact is colored (superimposed) with red. The film goes on to show the person (time lapse) doing his thing and everytime that red “contaminated” spot touches something else, that new spot is then also colored red. Within the course of a short time the entire room is turned to red as well as everyone in it, as contaminated areas come into contact with previously “clean”.
Same like the idea of the glove but it would be a more dramatic demonstration if the paint DID NOT dry! In a matter of a few minutes you could see how far the germs have been spread.
Thanks Irene! I’ll order some. Gotta try everything!
I was at the dentist office yesterday. The hygenist had gloves and mask and what a joke that was. She was touching everything (xray equipment, slides, the machine itself, her own face, moving her mask up and down etc.) and then approached me with the same gloved hands to stick stuff in my mouth in preparation for a root canal. YUCK! I made her change her gloves out. I mean man, she did everything in those gloves but make change, and who knows, she may have even done that. She gave me attitude, but she did change them out. The dentist himself was far more careful.
Also, ever see the folks at the local deli? They put little plastic baggies over their hands before they make your sandwich and then proceed to use them to cut meats and cheeses, play with paper and bags and such. They assemble your sandwich, bag it up, and take your money and give you change. Then they make a sandwich for the next person with the same bagged hands. Ewwwwwwwww…
I am noticing more and more of these breaches. I think I’ll be making my own sandwiches from now on for one thing.
Not talking about changing old habits but making new ones. Think I am going to investigate meditation. It helps keep people calm in stressful situation and will help if you are prone to depression, which might be a problem in a long SIP. It lowers blood pressure and helps balance out your moods. Everyone can benefit in your family.
I always heard it takes 21 days to break or make a habit. Awareness, stop old action, confirming new behavior.
diana et all RE: fingernails. there was a study a while back that, I am sorry that I can’t be more specific or back this up with a reference, that a surprisingly large percentage of NURSES with long fingernails harbored FECAL bacteria under them even after the recommended 20 second handwashing betweeen patients.
I have seen other studies that indicate that long nails gather nasty germs. So, if I had long nails I would use a nailbrush ..one could imagine each time one would need to wash hands OR use hand sanitizer under the nail is also possibly contaminated…frequently.
And in a pandemic situation long nails should probably be cut short for hygiene reasons. If we are caretaking a sick person who can’t wash their hands also, cut their nails I’d say. And keep kids nails short.
I worked in microbio for years, then in hospitals, now I work with babies. So I have always kept my nails short as soon as they get longer I see the same thing about them that you do Diana
nailbrushes should be prepped.
I like moderatly long nails because they look good, but feel revolted by those long curling nails some women have cultivated and are proud of. How do they manage anything at all from dressing to opening a door, and cleaning underneath? Mine are never more than a third of an inch, and I start from scratch if more than one break. They are useful if they are strong. So many nail shops are in business, and so many woman put all kinds of decorative designs on them, so I doubt if they want to endanger the design by scrubbing them with a nail brush. We all have our small vanities. I like clean nails and hair and a scrubbed healthy look, but to each their own preferences. They used to look at your hands and nails in the lower grades to get children aware of how clean their hands were. Noone would want to be singled out as grubby. Even the e-coli problem with the spinach should make people more aware of contamination. And jplanner is correct even the nail brushes should be prepped now and then. I use hot boiled water from the microwave.
Step up the superbug battle, CDC tells hospitals: http://tinyurl.com/yaqram
snip
“Simple hand-washing is still a problem in some facilities, the CDC has said.
“The main mode of transmission to other patients is through human hands, especially health-care workers’ hands,” the CDC says in a statement on its Web site
Fingernails are hard to clean.