countless Posted February 3, 2009 Share Posted February 3, 2009 I claim not to be germophobe. But if I start counting...- when I wake up- after useing public transport- after shaking hands with colleagues in the morning- after toilet use- before having lunch- when coming home again- before handling contact lensesHoly goodness ! At least 10 times a day. Link to comment
Vetinari Posted February 3, 2009 Share Posted February 3, 2009 Well.....I voted other because it does vary.If no-one in the house has any nasty illness then:When I get upAfter toilet use Before handling foodAfter handling raw meatAny time during food handling when I have to touch my nose or eyesIf the children have anything nasty (that doesn't include colds) I go absolutely mad until my hands are actually raw and painful. So not even slightly obsessed then! Link to comment
The Sneezster Posted February 3, 2009 Share Posted February 3, 2009 I chose "other" because I definitely wash my hands more than 10 times a day, but I don't wash them continuously.Wake up and go to the bathroom -- washTake a shower -- my hands are part of me that get washedGet dressed, then put in contact lenses -- washPrepare my lunch for work -- washArrive at work -- washGo to the bathroom -- washWash hands before and after each patient contact (I'm a nurse) wash maybe 25-40 timesEat lunch -- washUse the bathroom -- washAfter I wipe or blow my nose or sneeze -- wash after each time, so maybe 6-12/dayUse the bathroom before I leave work -- washArrive home and use the bathroom (it's a long commute) -- washPrepare food -- washBefore I eat -- washTake out contact lenses -- washAfter I go to the bathroom at bedtime -- washSo, maybe a couple of dozen times, not counting the nurse-related patient contact washing (for some of those, I use the alcohol gel instead of soap and water). But continuously? No. All those are the appropriate times to wash. Really.And I'm not even a germaphobe. I just don't want to make anyone sick because I didn't wash. Link to comment
Bubbles Posted February 3, 2009 Share Posted February 3, 2009 I'm a nurse (wanting to specialise in infection control), so I probably ruin the results because in work I leave nothing to chance, and Heebeejeebeescrub myself continuously. I wouldn't like to think how many times I wash my hands in a day Maybe I will count tomorrow, just to see! Interestingly, I do regular handwashing audits in my work to make sure people wash their hands enough and do it correctly using the 6 step technique lolWhen not in work, however, I'm not actually that bothered about my own dirt, to be honest, because I value its importance in training my immune system! I'm more freaked out about smells on my hands!! I wash my hands after I go to the toilet, and before I eat, and before and after preparing food, but any other times I wash them are mostly because of things like the smell of food off my hands, or after washing dishes because I hate the smell of washing-up liquid, or after I read the paper to get rid of the ink from my fingers. I wouldn't wash my hands after touching people or things in the outside world really either, unless they left me visibly dirty, because again I want to expose myself to things while I am strong enough to fight them. Then maybe when I'm old and frail, my body will have good backup Link to comment
Aceofblades Posted February 3, 2009 Share Posted February 3, 2009 Definitely a germaphobe here, I try to wash after any time I either touch someones hand, or touch an object in a public/school/work environment. I'm like the seinfeld episode where I use the paper towel I use to dry my hands to also open the rest room door to leave. Link to comment
chui Posted February 4, 2009 Share Posted February 4, 2009 Being a research scientist, my entire job depends on my hands being clean and/or sterile 90% of the time. Therefore, I wash them continuously. Most of the year my hands are raw and in danger of cracking If I don't lotion them 3-4 times a day. Not to mention, after every time going to the bathroom, before during and after cooking, anytime i sneeze/cough, after petting the dog, if i touch anyone else's hands... funny though... im not germaphobic... I simply have to stay as clean as possible for my job... Link to comment
blondyachoo Posted February 4, 2009 Share Posted February 4, 2009 Nursing Training and public transport.... thats all I have to say. Link to comment
Kiwifruit Posted February 4, 2009 Share Posted February 4, 2009 Is this including hand sanitizer? Link to comment
Hankysneeze Posted February 4, 2009 Share Posted February 4, 2009 The answer to that has to be other,different circumstances and different days may call for more or less hand washing Link to comment
Lalena Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 I'm definitely not a germophobe. Being a teacher, I should probably wash my hands more than I do, but lots of my teacher friends wash or sanitize their hands continuously and their hands are so chapped and raw. I try and avoid that. Link to comment
Vetinari Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 I hope this isn't too much of a threadjack but for those of you who have some kind of medical background and have been taught to wash their hands using a particular routine to ensure no parts of the hands are missed......do you use that routine whenever you wash your hands? I tend to do it if I think they might be particularly dirty...such as when I have been handling raw chicken. Otherwise I will wash them reasonably thoroughly with soap but only as a normal person might if you see what I mean! Link to comment
wishiwassneezy Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 I'm not a complete germaphobe, but I HATE it when my hands feel dirty so I wash my hands almost every chance I can get and I will never ever sneeze into my hands either. Link to comment
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