At the risk of sounding like a total weirdo...

[todzwife]

Just a little FYI. I have read a LOT of threads about people getting the stomach bug at Disney and spending several days in the hotel because they are so ill. Many wonder how they got sick when they used Purell religiously.

Well I'll tell you something. Alcohol based hand sanitizers, "anti-bacterial" hand sanitizers etc. are USELESS against the stomach virus (otherwise known as norovirus, rota/rotovirus)

If you really want to kill it, use benzolthonium chloride which is in Wet Ones WIPES (Another benefit to the wipes is that you are actually wiping the germs off).

Yes, I am a total germaphobe.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

lol ty

 

[mAlien13]

LOL from one germaphobe to another

I always carry Wet Ones. It is nice sometimes to know you are cleaning something off and away. I also have Purell, but tend to try and actually wash my hands when I possibly can. The Purell is nice in a pinch, and we've used it, but I have read some interesting things about it actually lowering a person's ability to fight off germs on their own, like the over-usage of antibiotics.

Good tip!

 

[Jennifer03]

Thanks for the tip! I'll be sure to pack some of those on my next trip.

 

[samkj]

Thanks, I'll be picking some up ASAP!! I always carry hand sanitizer(and drive the kids crazy making them use it everytime they touch something at DL!), but it sounds like I need the wet wipes instead. My son tends to get sick on trips, so this tip will come in handy.

 

[Gisele]

todzwife,

When you say wet ones brand, would it be just that brand that wipes the disgusting germs away? or would any brand do? I have used the Target brand of Wet Ones, so that is why I am wondering, for example.

 

[tink2dw]

Many times the illness is from the water. That is why Pro's take, buy, ship bottled water to their hotels, even off site hotels.

 

[disneyfan4ever54]

LOL from one germaphobe to another

I always carry Wet Ones. It is nice sometimes to know you are cleaning something off and away. I also have Purell, but tend to try and actually wash my hands when I possibly can. The Purell is nice in a pinch, and we've used it, but I have read some interesting things about it actually lowering a person's ability to fight off germs on their own, like the over-usage of antibiotics.

Good tip!

This is a great topic brought up by todzwife. A product with benzothonium chloride (such as wetwipes) will work against the causes of a stomach bug better than Purell (which doesn't have this ingredient). Benzothonium chloride will kill viruses where Purell only has ingredients that will kill bacteria. Most "stomach bugs" are caused by a virus, not a bacterial source. And as someone mentioned above, a product that only kills bacteria can actually make things worse as it not only kills off the "bad" bacteria that causes sickness, but it also destroys the "good" bacteria that is keeping the viruses in check. Destroying the bacteria can make a virus worse, so that is why a lot of people get sicker when just using something that kills off bacteria only. The overuse of antibiotics is a good example of this and why super viruses are flourishing today. So, if you are going to use a product, it is better to use one that works on both viruses and bacteria.

 

[disneyfan4ever54]

Just a little FYI. I have read a LOT of threads about people getting the stomach bug at Disney and spending several days in the hotel because they are so ill. Many wonder how they got sick when they used Purell religiously.

Well I'll tell you something. Alcohol based hand sanitizers, "anti-bacterial" hand sanitizers etc. are USELESS against the stomach virus (otherwise known as norovirus, rota/rotovirus)

If you really want to kill it, use benzolthonium chloride which is in Wet Ones WIPES (Another benefit to the wipes is that you are actually wiping the germs off).

Yes, I am a total germaphobe.

You are in no way a weirdo. You are my hero.....LOL As a nurse and a person who has a decreased immune system from being on antibiotics for years as a child, I really appreciated this thread! I think it is something everyone should think about.

 

[CrazyDuck]

Many times the illness is from the water. That is why Pro's take, buy, ship bottled water to their hotels, even off site hotels.

I hear the worst water you can get would be the water on an airplane. Not necessairly the water they are pouring for you from a bottle rather the water they use to make the ice in your drink. Stay away from the ice on airplanes!

 

[PinkBudgie]

Last year my boys' science teacher was warning them against cups in hotels. The glass ones with only a paper lid on the top. She said they have been found to be full of germs, possibly not washed very well, or left out from the last person if they don't look used. The plastic ones sealed up in the bag are better. I never thought about it before but something to think about when traveling to any hotels while visiting DLR.

As a pre-k teacher I use purell a lot when I'm outside with the kids and can't wash my hands. We have lots of those wipes so I will bring those outside to use too. Thanks!

 

[todzwife]

todzwife,

When you say wet ones brand, would it be just that brand that wipes the disgusting germs away? or would any brand do? I have used the Target brand of Wet Ones, so that is why I am wondering, for example.

I'm not sure because Target/Wal-mart and other "off brand" wipes have benzolKONIUM chloride and I haven't been able to find much research on that. I pay a little more for the real thing just to be safe. Of course, wiping your hands off vs. smearing them with gel is always going to be a better bet. Of course, washing your hands is THE best way (20 seconds with warm water and soap!)

The thing about noroviruses is that they are NOT airborne. If everyone would wash their hands they would not exist. It is ONLY contagious in stool and if someone actually throws up, there is come in the particles. If someone gets a bug at your house, BLEACH it. Anything that comes in contact with them. Lysol, Pinesol etc. smell great, but again, they don't KILL the stomach bug.

I know more about stomach viruses than I care to admit.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

wierd last year i drunk out those cups water in mid night every night..some reason the water tasted grate to me i was suprised how good it tasted
but ty ill get a few cups

 

[mystic_path]

Honestly thats brilliant. I never really thought of it like that but im definately going to be doing that. Its really good to know for work as well because I am around the public all day. THANKS!!!!

 

[EmmersIsTheMommy]

Firstly, AGREED. I love wet ones. I feel cleaner than when I use purell anyway. And they don't dry out.

Second, Crap, lysol won't work? Now DH is gonna be SOOOO irritated ROFL. I'm already a germaphobe..I follow the sickie around with sprays and wipes . What about chlorox wipes on hard surfaces?

Third, I will NEVER EVER EVER EVER drink out of a hotel glass again. Even ritzy ones. Everyone saw that newspiece right? UGH. No way, no how. I will ALWAYS buy plastic cups.

 

[todzwife]

Firstly, AGREED. I love wet ones. I feel cleaner than when I use purell anyway. And they don't dry out.

Second, Crap, lysol won't work? Now DH is gonna be SOOOO irritated ROFL. I'm already a germaphobe..I follow the sickie around with sprays and wipes . What about chlorox wipes on hard surfaces?

Third, I will NEVER EVER EVER EVER drink out of a hotel glass again. Even ritzy ones. Everyone saw that newspiece right? UGH. No way, no how. I will ALWAYS buy plastic cups.

Lysol kills rotavirus, but hasn't confirmed for Norovirus (which is what MOST stomach viruses are).
I still use lysol, as it is better than nothing but if I can, I bleach EVERYTHING. Clorox wipes do not have bleach in them so nope. Sorry.

 

[mystic_path]

Third, I will NEVER EVER EVER EVER drink out of a hotel glass again. Even ritzy ones. Everyone saw that newspiece right? UGH. No way, no how. I will ALWAYS buy plastic cups.

There is a movie on Youtube about drinking glasses and how often they are replaced and how they are cleaned out. Even the ritzy hotels like you said dont always do their job properly. It makes you think twice.

Here is the link to that movie... actually it really important people see it

http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=C6uQC9MM5cQ

 

[avalon451]

I hear the worst water you can get would be the water on an airplane. Not necessairly the water they are pouring for you from a bottle rather the water they use to make the ice in your drink. Stay away from the ice on airplanes!

I did NOT know this. Wow. Guess I will be drinking warm juice on the plane!

Thanks for all this info! I am totally going to pick up Handi-wipes now! And drink out of freshly unwrapped plastic cups at the hotel!

 

[EmmersIsTheMommy]

Lysol kills rotavirus, but hasn't confirmed for Norovirus (which is what MOST stomach viruses are).
I still use lysol, as it is better than nothing but if I can, I bleach EVERYTHING. Clorox wipes do not have bleach in them so nope. Sorry.

That's ok, I'll keep pretending it'll work and wash hands like mad (like I usually do..my family rolls their eyes at me)

I DO bleach bedding if the stomach flu is around tho. Everything I CAN bleach I do..but that's not every thing. *sigh*

My DS is very stomach flu prone for some reason. Colds, no effect, stomach flu..EVERY time. I did FINALLY tell him that the reason he was getting it so often is because of his fingernail biting habit. Guess what, he quit and it quit basically. WHEW. I had tried it all but telling him that THAT was what was making his tummy sick so often was the nail in the coffin LOL He's 4 and now educates kids that are biting their fingernails (much to my embarrassment LOL)

 

[todzwife]

My DS is very stomach flu prone for some reason. Colds, no effect, stomach flu..EVERY time. I did FINALLY tell him that the reason he was getting it so often is because of his fingernail biting habit. Guess what, he quit and it quit basically. WHEW. I had tried it all but telling him that THAT was what was making his tummy sick so often was the nail in the coffin LOL He's 4 and now educates kids that are biting their fingernails (much to my embarrassment LOL)

That is hilarious because I told my son the SAME thing when he was biting his nails and he stopped COLD TURKEY