Down with the sickness
Boy, I don’t like having to call in “sick.” Whatever I’ve got - a very wicked spring cold or some such thing - would not allow me to fully function in my job today, that’s for sure. There was no question that my only activity this Monday would be visiting a doctor. This “thing” ended my weekend before it was halfway through and sent me to bed during one of the most beautiful days of the spring so far.
Experts continue to say it: wash your hands! I was startled to learn that antibacterial gels don’t kill the pesky C. difficile virus, but regular soap-washing will. More and more I see people using paper towels to push washroom doors open and just generally behaving more carefully about what they touch, and acting more aware of how many hands may have touched it before. Taps with sensors and automatic hand-dryers are the norm rather than the exception.
One phenomenon I’m suddenly seeing occasionally, especially in my North York neighbourhood, is women - mostly younger women - wearing surgical face masks. I’ve seen a few on transit and others simply walking down the street. I don’t know what it is they’re trying to prevent, but last I heard, SARS was long gone and there’s no expected imminent arrival of bird flu. Perhaps we simply have some overly concerned germaphobes in our midst. I don’t think they know anything we don’t know. And we know from the experts that beyond everything else - including sneezing into your arm and avoiding breathing in shared air - hand-washing prevents most germs from spreading.
May 26th, 2008 at 11:28 am
People wear masks for various reasons. They could be trying to minimize seasonal allergies (there’s lots of pollen floating around, especially with the restricted use of herbicides/pesticides these days). It could also be the pollution and smog.
Or maybe like you said, they are just germ-phobic and trying to prevent catching bugs, or being responsible and trying to prevent spreading something they have.
Whatever the reason, it seems like a good idea to me. I would definitely use them more if the mask-makers came out with nicer looking styles.
May 26th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
remember that more and more people are in the community undergoing chemotherapy for cancer or other diseases and they are more susceptible to infection.
May 27th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
Maybe there’s a business in that idea! I can see it now. Burberry masks. Louis masks! Chanel masks. Crazier things have caught on…
May 28th, 2008 at 8:57 am
Masks? No thanks. Does that translate to wearing a helmet while walking down the street? Overkill I think.
However, I am a firm beleiver in precautionary measures, within reason that is. Not only does washing your hands remove germs from your hands so they can’t be spread to other objects or people, we have to take it one step further! Don’t touch your face and innoculate yourself with those germs! Germs on intact skin are usually harmless for the bearer. Germs need a good portal of entry. Your eyes, nose, mouth and other mucous membranes ( and open cuts) are perfect for self innoculation! So, keep your hands away from your face at ALL times! Also, wash your hands BEFORE you go to the washroom so you don’t self innoculate in that way either!