Swine Flu and You

[Jims5543]

Originally Posted by dd74

I knew a guy who no matter how long it took, would not touch the doorknob of a bathroom door that opened in. He'd wait until someone came in so he could dash out without touching anything.

The guy also never touched bathroom doors that swung out; he'd put his foot to the door and pushed it out in that fashion.

I sort of do this. After washing my hands I keep the paper towel and use it to open the inward opening doors. Then I either prop the door open with my foot as I throw away the towel or throw the towel out in the nearest trash can.


As far as I am concerned, any well designed public bathroom would have outward opening doors. When I encounter those I push with my foot as well.

Did you ever notice how many do not wash their hands? Its alarming.

[Rick Lee]

I'm a freak about washing my hands. I can't stand even feeling dirty. But I have to wonder how dangerous it is to not wash my hands all the time. I mean, I can't remember the last time I got any kind of sick. I was definitely in some unsanitary environments in China recently, walking through the slaughter-room/kitchen on the way to the bathroom in more than one restaurant and rarely using a bathroom that was any better than the worst gas station one you've ever seen in the US. I must have taken 10 domestic flights there, was on crowded buses and trains and still, I never ever get sick. It can't be because I wash my hands a lot. I do pick my nose, rub my eyes and scratch my face all the time.

[jyl]

Don't you work from home? Seems like frequent handwashing would be less important if you seldom have any contact with other people or things that they have touched? That is only a guess, maybe a doc will chime in.

[Rick Lee]

I do work from home. But that means I cook most of my own meals and run a lot of errands to the store, bank, post office, etc. I do also go on a lot of meetings each month. I've only been working from home for about a year. Before that I was in an office and often on the overcrowded DC Metro. It's been years since I've had even a slight cold. Everyone I know gets sick at least once a year. Even when I lived with my parents and they were both sick, I never caught it.

[jbryant]

[jyl]

Seems like you have a good immune system.

Me same. Grew up in a household with old-school Chinese notions of cleanliness, meaning not much. Dad didn't even believe in bandaging wounds, cuts, scrapes, etc. I eat anything, anywhere, even scary street vendors surrounded by buzzing flies in sketchy countries, etc. I think that's been a good thing.

[dd74]

Originally Posted by Jims5543

I sort of do this. After washing my hands I keep the paper towel and use it to open the inward opening doors. Then I either prop the door open with my foot as I throw away the towel or throw the towel out in the nearest trash can.


As far as I am concerned, any well designed public bathroom would have outward opening doors. When I encounter those I push with my foot as well.

I completely understand your pov. The problem with the "well-designed public bathroom" with the door opening out can hit someone in the face either while entering that same bathroom or walking past the bathroom. Next would be a lawsuit.

[Rick Lee]

I thought some states mandated that all doors always open out for evacuation in case of fire.

[dd74]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

I'm a freak about washing my hands. I can't stand even feeling dirty. But I have to wonder how dangerous it is to not wash my hands all the time.

I'm the same. But I wonder how dangerous it is to continually wash my hands. I wash my hands after handling money, door handles, even shaking hands if the opportunity provides. But the downside is my hands are sandpaper dry afterward.

Not just that, but this anti-bacterial soap, I personally think, isn't doing one's skin any favors.

My skin is so dried out after a few hand washings, I'm hitting the Vaseline Intensive Care lotion like some sort of addict.

[Rick Lee]

I use a lot of handcreme too, that Norwegian stuff that does a great job with a tiny dab. Lately, one finger joint is so dry and cracked, that I've tried to refrain from washing my hands all day and keep a bandaid with Neosporin on the cracked skin. I'm about to head to the gym, which I think is a giant petri dish. I'll be showering after that for sure.

[dd74]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

I use a lot of handcreme too, that Norwegian stuff that does a great job with a tiny dab. Lately, one finger joint is so dry and cracked, that I've tried to refrain from washing my hands all day and keep a bandaid with Neosporin on the cracked skin. I'm about to head to the gym, which I think is a giant petri dish. I'll be showering after that for sure.

I won't go to gyms - ever - because they are giant petri dishes.

[Danimal16]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

I thought some states mandated that all doors always open out for evacuation in case of fire.

If properly designed you don't need a door.

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by dd74

I won't go to gyms - ever - because they are giant petri dishes.

I know, I know. But I've never gotten sick from it.

[dd74]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

I know, I know. But I've never gotten sick from it.

I bought a home gym. I used to go to a gym, but years ago: the place was sickening. I started going very late at night - like around 11PM when there were less people around. The problem was the gym rats were also there at that hour, trying to sell me steroids, EPO, and what-not. All of them were Russian guys. Go figure.

[jyl]

I'd like to join Curves, but they don't seem interested.

[dd74]

Originally Posted by jyl

I'd like to join Curves, but they don't seem interested.

Why would you join Curves? So you can work on stretches with Large Marge?

[Heel n Toe]

Originally Posted by dd74

I knew a guy who no matter how long it took, would not touch the doorknob of a bathroom door that opened in. He'd wait until someone came in so he could dash out without touching anything.

I'm not taking any chances with doorknobs, elevator buttons, or anything like that.

I get some strange looks, but I lick 'em all clean as a whistle before I touch 'em.

[RWebb]

Originally Posted by dd74

I knew a guy who no matter how long it took, would not touch the doorknob of a bathroom door that opened in. He'd wait until someone came in so he could dash out without touching anything.

The guy also never touched bathroom doors that swung out; he'd put his foot to the door and pushed it out in that fashion.

- actually good septic practice

I often just use a paper towel to open in winter

but it is not only bathroom door knobs - any knob in a dark place... as many viruses degrade rapidly from UV
also you are not just worried from fecal materials, but from any contact - tears, saliva, spittle, sneeze ejecta

was he a nurse or MD?


re the gym - disease vectors persist for many hours or days -- there is significant exposure risk after the crowd has gone.

sweat, like urine, is usually pretty safe (!)

For MUCH MORE FEAR - read the book Hot Zone.

[The Gaijin]

This is like a great week for the germ-o-phoebes. Slathering on the sani-gel with a quite look of I-told-you-so...

I think gyms are bad for stuff like staph.

Bathrooms are most likely to get you gastro-intestinal troubles..

Subways? Up until now, I thought about lice and bed-bugs.

This Mexican-Swine-H1Nwhatever?? I think you get that by breathing..