I’ve been to Kansas City and everything is up to date there!
by Bella Rum
Doesn’t he look like he has a fever?
I did a search on hand sanitizer, and I found a recent study because there’s a recent study out there for every “expert” who ever drew breath. I’m sure I’ve told this story before, but this reminds me of that time when my son was about thirteen or fourteen. He told me he finally knew what he wanted to be when he grew up. I was all ears. “One of those guys who carries the cables behind the coaches on the sidelines at NFL games… or an expert.” I knew it wasn’t a burning desire to tote cables that had him so inspired. Toting cables was only an avenue to his real goal of spending a lifetime on the sidelines of an NFL game, but an expert? What was that about?
He said, “You know, when they say ‘and experts say’ I want to be that expert they’re talking about.” As it turned out, he did not grow up to tote bundled cables up and down the sidelines of a Miami Dolphins’ game. He became an expert in something I don’t even know how to explain to my friends. I just tell them he’s doing well and pray that it’s true.
Anyway…
The hand sanitizer thing. You thought I’d forgotten? Not a chance. When I visited the doctor yesterday, I refused to shake hands with her, explaining that she really didn’t want to shake hands with me. Now that I think about it, she didn’t actually offer. She heard me coughing before she entered the examining room.
She was not my regular doc but she was wonderful. This is the greatest practice. Love these gals. She had a bottle of hand sanitizer beside the computer, and she must have hit that pump at least a dozen times (no exaggeration). I was beginning to feel a little leper-ish hence my search on hand sanitizer. The search landed me on BHG. (Don’t you get all your latest research from Better Homes and Gardens?) The “recent study“ revealed, as most recent studies do, the obvious.
… alcohol-based gels lose their germ-killing power within two minutes of application — a finding that took many consumers by surprise. … they’re made to eliminate germs on contact, much like soap and water do, says Megan T. Sandel, M.D., a nationally recognized “expert” on both healthy housing and teen health. BHG
“Took many consumers by surprise?” I demand to know who these consumers are. Do you expect your hand sanitizer to protect you from germs you have yet to meet? I use it after shopping to kill the germs I probably picked up in the store, but how could I expect it to protect me two hours later when I wipe my grandchild’s nose? Who pays for these studies? Don’t answer that. I’m so afraid it’s you and me.
Now I’m compelled to mention something you already know, but something I find fascinating. Has anyone noticed how far thermometer technology has come since every little boy wore a coonskin cap, and his mother placed a mercury-filled thermometer under his tongue? I know there’s been improvement (ear thermometer), but thermometers are now the height of swank. I had to use that antiquated instrument in the photo above this week. I asked H if he was sure it wasn’t the rectal thermometer I used on my son when he was a baby. The rectal one sports a slightly more bulbous business end. But would you just take a gander at this baby below, and I don’t mean the child. I bet all of you already have one. I’m getting one of these in my stocking. I’m not in to jewelry. 
The nurse rolled this bad boy (or something similar) over my forehead. Within a few seconds she had a reading. So impressed was I that I contemplated slipping it into my purse when she left the room. Bella Rum will never again hold a mid-twentieth century thermometer under her tongue for three minutes while unable to breathe through her nose. Royalty, thy name is Bella.
It doesn’t seem to matter how far we’ve come, some things never change while others can’t stop changing. Soap and water are hard to improve upon while technology can’t stop improving upon itself. Evolution is the essence of its nature, but I have to concede that the mercury-filled thermometer does work and always has. But I’m going swanky, guys.
I had heard that the hand santizers really are bad to use as they make us resistant to germs–soap and water is the best–however, I use the santizer all the time. AND I really want one of those thermeters–I wonder if they get a true reading though?
I think they’re supposed to be pretty accurate. As for the hand sanitizer, I generally keep it in the car to use after shopping. I think that’s where I come in contact with most of my germs… except for the grands.
I don’t even think we have a thermometer anymore. I tend to feel their head, and if it’s too hot to touch, I’ll give them a tylenol. I suppose if I were a better mother I’d care more, but I’m not.
LOL I think the hand touch is good enough, and you know how your own kid is, how they behave, etc. That’s the best thermometer. I’m not usually a gadget person myself, but this struck my fancy.
Funny thing – my doc asked me last visit if I used the hand sanitizers. I said no, but why was he asking? He said he’s recommending to all his patients that they go back to soap and water. It’s the alcohol, you see. It dries hands out so much that they get microscopic cracks, and even more germs than usual get in.
That made sense once he said it. I wipe down wood before the last coat of varnish with denatured alcohol to get the last bit of sanding dust out of the grain. In the winter I have to wear disposable gloves to do it, or the combination of alcohol and cold weather will leave me with rough hands, or even cracked and bleeding knuckles. (No wonder my mother wished I’d get a reasonable job, like greeter at WalMart.)
That thermometer gizmo’s cool. I’ve heard about them but never seen one.
I agree about the soap and water which is why I only use the sanitizers after touching all those germ laden things in the stores. Of course, that’s not very often because I hate shopping. I read about getting the cracks in your hands and making it easier to get infections. Soap and water all the way, I say.
That thermometer is very cool. I’m not always attracted to gadgets. My rules are: can’t be too expensive, must provide a real function and do it well, can’t take up too much space. I don’t have an electric can opener. I like my manual one. It’s nice, cheap and it doesn’t take up counter space. I’ll never have an electric one again unless I get an infection in my hand from too much sanitizer and can’t operate the manual one.
Ooh – I want one too! I have an electronic thermometer – you still put it under your tongue (or, rather, I put it under MY tongue – you probably don’t want to be anywhere near it), but it takes a lot less time to get your temp. You know, now that I think about it I’m not taking my temp as obsessively as I used to. Another thing menopause has changed – I no longer think I’m getting the flu every month.
Oh, & Judy – I would have to take my temp using BOTH instruments for a while just to make sure the new one worked
My father has an one of those electric thermometers you put under your tongue and he takes is temp about four times a day. It’s the first thing he does after his shower. Keeping track.
I think this fancy thermometer is supposed to be more accurate than the one under the tongue or ear. Something about arterial temperature, magical software or something we’ll never understand.
Well, I like the hand sanitizers because at this time of year I’m always in schools playing pianos that countless little germy hands have touched before me. And they must work pretty well because I haven’t had an upper respiratory infection in several years, and I spent my whole life plagued with chronic ones in the winter.
Of course, now that I’ve said that, I’ll start hacking and sniffling tomorrow.
Better go wash my hands.
I really think the kind of thing you’re talking about is the right way to use them. That’s why I use them when soap and water are not available and I’m pretty sure I’ve been exposed to a lot of germs… after shopping, etc. I guess the trick is not to overuse them, causing cracking. Lotion, lotion, lotion! Hope the new year brings nothing but good health for you, Becca.
Love the OK video since it’s been a while since I’ve seen it. And I’m here to report, having lived in KC for half a century, that, well, we might not yet have that über thermometer of which you so highly speak. And I think I might have seen someone toting cable down the sidelines at the last Chief’s game. But, thankfully, reading your blog always helps me relocate myself into the 21st century. ; )
I loved seeing that OK video again, too. I remember seeing the movie in a theater when I was a teenager. It was already an “old” movie but I loved it.