General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsAseptic technique
I'll share some habits used by folks trained in aseptic technique:
1) learn to use your knuckles rather than fingertips, for things like pressing elevator buttons, keys on ATM pads, POS keypads, etc. Start doing it today. Eventually it will become your habit.
2) open swinging doors using your shoulders and elbows. Hold doors open using your knee or foot. Do this most especially with public restroom doors.
3) if you *must* touch your face/nose, use the back of your hand
If you can incorporate just these three things into your daily routine, in addition to of course handwasing, you'll be far ahead of the curve.
Lars39
(26,116 posts)Ill also use the bottom of my coat or sweater to open doors too
dawg
(10,624 posts)There's no cost to doing these things, and they might help.
mahina
(17,696 posts)So you dont pick up germs from the nozzle and keypad
CottonBear
(21,596 posts)I keep them on the floorboard under my seat. I throw them in the wash regularly along with my other gardening/work gloves.
mahina
(17,696 posts)Shermann
(7,428 posts)I do some of those already, I didn't know it had a name.
Damn restroom door handles. Sometimes you can grab those with a paper towel.
intrepidity
(7,336 posts)If you must grab a door handle (not knob), use the crook of a finger. I try to use my pinky.
It's all about avoiding using your fingertips.
Door knobs are a hellacious beast for those trying to practice aseptic technique! Grabbing a paper towel is usually the only way, but that presents its own issues.
Leghorn21
(13,526 posts)misery - I'll be sending this around, THANK YOU!!
WELL DONE!
intrepidity
(7,336 posts)Leghorn21
(13,526 posts)about?? More protection than masks provide, seems like - get home, remove, wash hands thoroughly, carry on
seriously
Gloves give people a false sense of security. Knowing how to avoid touching things that you shouldn't is a very valuable skill.
Obviously gloves have their place. But knowledge is better.
I'm speaking as one who, when learning sterile technique many decades ago, decided to learn it without using gloves. It trained me incredibly well.
Leghorn21
(13,526 posts)why it's not a good idea AT ALL to depend on gloves for protection, in case any other DUers were wondering!!!
Your knowledge is a treasure trove, I'll be back to kick this if it drops out of sight during this insane day -
intrepidity
(7,336 posts)But the facts are that we don't always have gloves available, so it is so much better to have a habit that protects you, right?
You can't imagine my inner dialogue while I'm watching movies or TV shows, where there's a crime scene or infectious disease, and seeing how people use their hands unwittingly... Lol
Niagara
(7,659 posts)When I served food at the public school to students and teachers, not only did we wash our hands continuously, we wore nitrile and vinyl disposable gloves. It's a violation with the Board of Health if gloves aren't worn to serve food.
Ilsa
(61,698 posts)touching your face to scratch that itch.
LAS14
(13,783 posts)... would be on the outside of the gloves.
Grasswire2
(13,571 posts)don't blow dry and then touch the door handle.
I always do this.
Hugin
(33,198 posts)Be sure to grab a couple of extra for the road from those locations that do provide towels.
FoxNewsSucks
(10,435 posts)in the fountain, coffee and food service areas. I grab a couple on the way to the can, to open the door if they don't have paper towels.
Hugin
(33,198 posts)Yeah! Most places do have those.
bluestarone
(17,030 posts)cwydro
(51,308 posts)Im not exactly a germaphobe, but have done these for years!
Oh wait...maybe I am.
Rec.
crickets
(25,983 posts)Leghorn21
(13,526 posts)HAB911
(8,912 posts)now is opportune time to change this habit while people will understand the reason without much thought
LAS14
(13,783 posts)... just to keep from touching my mouth and nose. I wouldn't need "the right kind."
Mosby
(16,350 posts)Stay away from fast food for a while, especially places that just combine ingredients without heating like taco bell and chipotle.
A lot of fast food workers don't have good benefits, so they sometimes have to keep working while sick.
That's how all of the outbreaks of norovirus happened at chipotle, one sick employee preps chicken and 100s of people eat it.
dewsgirl
(14,961 posts)Kingofalldems
(38,475 posts)My hands never touch a public door, especially a restroom door.
CottonBear
(21,596 posts)with my fingertips. Plus, I wash my hands thoroughly and frequently with plain soap and warm water.
zanana1
(6,127 posts)LastDemocratInSC
(3,649 posts)mahina
(17,696 posts)Or someone elses fingers. People are often standing nearby and then very willing to help when asked. Now back to serious information
CottonBear
(21,596 posts)I dont use my fingertips.
dewsgirl
(14,961 posts)I would add a #4 avoid cash if at all possible, if you must handle cash (I realize some don't have a choice) wash your hands as frequently as possible.
Hugin
(33,198 posts)I've been doing this since H1N1.
If you can find the stuff with aloe and vit E it leaves the added benefit of nice soft supple hands.
I wash about every 5th time with soap and water... Just because I can't believe that something you don't rinse off like a gel doesn't get contaminated eventually.
Probably, foolish. But, I learned early, When in doubt, rinse it out.
dewsgirl
(14,961 posts)know who is preparing your food, avoid it for now if you can.
Hugin
(33,198 posts)Rule"
I will not eat anything containing mayo or similar sauces where I didn't make it myself or saw it prepared by someone I know very well.
Those who know about my rule always laugh, but, too many times I've had the last laugh.
Yeah, sadly restaurants and fast food are going to take a hit in this. Unbelievably, our society doesn't treat those who prepare our food and educate our children with the respect they rightly deserve.
dewsgirl
(14,961 posts)smart rule.
Much of our society has a huge problem with depending on eating out for their nutritional needs, I can see big issues ahead as the situation develops.
Response to intrepidity (Original post)
Akacia This message was self-deleted by its author.
LAS14
(13,783 posts)Today in church I caught myself rubbing my tickly nose. Rats! I thought. Then I asked hubby for the hand sanitizer he carries around and rubbed some on my nose and a tiny way into the nostrils.
That got me thinking about how often I touch my often itchy eyes and tickly nose. Most often when I'm sitting down. So I've promised myself to use hand sanitizer on my hands as soon as I sit down for a protracted period. Restaurant, car, public transport, concert, etc.