Attention Germ Phobes.........

[DisneyBrideToni]

Do you really think the virus is still going around there? I mean its been like months. Doesnt' it eventually wear off?

 

[717fan]

The 3 easiest ways to avoid getting sick are:

1. Wash your hands after using the bathroom and before eating.

2. Avoid contact between your fingers and eyes, ears, nose, and mouth.

3. Avoid contact with as many people as possible.

 

[ShannonMB]

WARNING! I just heard from a reputable source that there are going to be a LOT of germs at WDW starting on Feb 14th at around 10:30am and will stay until about 11am on Feb 20th.

For your health, and the health of your families, I think you all should consider rescheduling if you were planning to go that week!

 

[DisneyBrideToni]

WARNING! I just heard from a reputable source that there are going to be a LOT of germs at WDW starting on Feb 14th at around 10:30am and will stay until about 11am on Feb 20th.

For your health, and the health of your families, I think you all should consider rescheduling if you were planning to go that week!

 

[nascarcheshirecat]

You just know I gotta be a Germ-phobe if I am thrilled to find this thread and get ideas for being extra-
wicked Monkish.........

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

WARNING! I just heard from a reputable source that there are going to be a LOT of germs at WDW starting on Feb 14th at around 10:30am and will stay until about 11am on Feb 20th.

For your health, and the health of your families, I think you all should consider rescheduling if you were planning to go that week!

Maybe we should all start wearing Hazmat suits!

 

[Harlie]

I never considered myself a germaphobe I have two catagories though:

Things I do just because I think it is gross not to,and are not to really avoid getting germs or getting sick:

I never put my purse on the floor...especially in a public restroom. I will not sit on a toilet seat with someone elses "sprinkles" ewww (I really don't want someones pee on my rear yuck). I will not use shopping carts with out gloves or paper towels (because the cleaner wipes provided don't actually clean them anyway)

Things I do to avoid germs/getting sick:

I wash hands before meals, after restroom breaks, and before cooking with warm water and soap. I never use anti-bactierial soap. I only use purell before eating if there is not a sink for the old fashioned soap and water to be found (like on a picnic), or an emergancy restroom break on the side of the road. I avoid touching bathroom door handles (even at home) without using my sleeves.

As for cleaners due to my asthma and my sons we use all natural cleaners (hot water, vinegar and good old fashioned elbow grease) for everything but our hardwood floors.

I know these things will not 100% avoid illness in our Family, But We really rarely have had our family with nastsy puking stomach bugs. In the last ten years I have had one, DH one, DD9 one, DS8 one and DS4 never. And we have never had it in the same year. It is like we took turns every two years someone got sick lol!

We get the typical colds, ear/sinus infections. DS and I have both had pneumonia. Streph throat has never been seen in my house.

So I basically agree no antibacterial soap in our house, I do bring my own soap to my SIL's as she has the antibacerial stuff lol!

As for the sheets thing...I used to work as a housekeeper in a hotel and yes they are really gross and the comforters are not washed as often as they should be fine just don't sit neked on them to mix swass with an unknown stranger (not that you would catch anything its just the idea that is gross lol)

 

[Twitterpated Dad]

With the exception of SueM's post, I believe this is the most intelligent thing said on this thread.

(But, then adult beverages could be involved, so ...)

 

[jeast]

Good grief. That is kooky.

I doubt you'd find many people who would agree with you, given the choices you list.

David

Ummm...I would. I don't get crazy about germs, but if I had to pick and choose, I would choose just about anything over throwing up. I hate it. The only thing I hated more was strep.

 

[jeast]

Mom of six chiming in...just wondering...do those of you who hate vomiting so much not ever get morning sickness? I vomited with all of my pregnancies--usually to the point of breaking all the little capillaries on my face and neck. Nobody LIKES to be nauseous. (That's the bad part--much worse than the vomiting) Each time I have started with the morning sickness I walk over to the toilet and say, "Hello my little porcelain friend. Remember me? I am back." I just am at a loss about those who think they are the only ones who hate vomiting. You are not unique or special in any way. I have yet to meet anyone who likes it.

Someone mentioned how when they had one child they were a germaphobe and by the time they had their third child they would let them lick the floor. I hate to tell you how bad it is for me! "Sure, darling! Wrap up in the hotel comforter and sleep on the floor. No problem." We have taken 24 family vacations to WDW and only become sick (full blown flu) one time.

I believe there is a special place in heaven for you, my dear!

 

[SueM in MN]

Being the one who originally posted the comment about washing faucet handles while washing hands, I want to thank you for passing along your knowledge. I was only repeating what a doctor casually told me as he washed during an office visit almost ten years ago, but I believe and trust your correction. The only problem with the ideal hand washing method you present is that many public sinks do not have paper towels available...they have hand dryers.

Many of the bathrooms with hand dryers also have automatic sinks.
For those that don't, the part of your hands that you use to manipulate things, eat with etc. is the palm side. That is the side of your hand that you want to keep clean (for example, when you wash your hands before you eat).
That leaves a lot of your hand you can still turn things off with. You could push with the back of your hand or your knuckle or even your elbow. Since you are not using those areas to eat or manipulate things with, there is little chance of getting germs from those places into your body.

 

[angelegod]

I'm not too bad.
At the parks:
I will not let my kids touch any staircase hand rails, escalator hand rails.
I let my kids use the bathrooms, they are little and have to. But I take antibacterial wipes for their hands, I will also confess to using clorox wipes to clean the toilet seat and then still putting the paper down before they sit!

In the hotel:
This is where I get germophobic. I will not let anyone sit, or lay on the bedspreads, ever! As soon as I get in the room I take them off. I have heard they hardley ever get washed and it just sceeves me out!LOL I wipe down the door handles and phone and remote with clorox wipes. I clean the toilet seat and I always check the place for bedbugs. No one is allowed to walk barefoot on the carpet or sit on it. I also spray the place with lysol and antibacterial fabreeze for the couch. We are DVC'ers so we are usually in a 1 bedroom with a full kitchen. I will not use any of the utensils or plates, cups, even if DH cleans them. No way! I bring paper plates, and plastic cups and utensils. Boy, I really sound like a nut! Now that I am writing it all out, it seems excessive! Somebody help, I need an intervention!LOL I don't want to jinx us but none of us have ever gotten sick at WDW and we go often.

Okay first off how do your kids stay safe when you don't let them touch the rails to walk up and down the stairs and expecialy the ecalator it is a must on the esculater to hold on for dear life

Maybe it is just me but at least once a night I have a nightmere of failing randomly to the point that I literly jump in bed so maybe it is my extream fear of hights that make me want to hold on the rails when I go up and down staris

 

[Tara8595]

So somebody mentioned buffets and that got me thinking... what about all those handles on the big spoons and tongs and such that you serve yourself with at the buffets. What do you do? Get your food, then wash your hands then eat, then get more food, wash hands, then eat....

Y'all are all freakin' me out. I already have to bring a jillion things for my toddler and now I gotta pack wipes, purell, lysol, febreeze, sheets, towels, blankets, bedspreads, pillows, and I have to wear gloves I guess while I'm stripping the beds to look for bedbugs and I can't take my shoes and socks off while I'm in my room until after I'm in bed. I guess I'll have to also bring my shoes in the bathroom when I take a shower so I can put them on when I get out of the tub lest I walk on the floor or god forbid the nasty carpet. I KNOW, I'll bring enough towels and blankets from home to re-carpet the rooms! That's it!!!

All kidding aside, I made it until my kid started dropping his pacifier on the floor about every thirty seconds, and washing and washing and washing, and then just rinsing, and rinsing, and then I got to the point where I was just blowing it off or brushing it off with my shirt, and really, it just wore me down and eventually, I got to the point I just gave it back to him. Having a toddler, your OWN toddler, cures you of much of the fear of snot, spit, puke, spitup, and all kinds of pee and poo.

Okay... I have degenerated to the point of writing for my own entertainment, so I'll shut up now....

Okay... not quite... seriously, what are we gonna do about those buffet utensils?

 

[Soarin08]

Ya know......
My family does because my kids will bring it home from school then I get it. Her family is sick right now with cold symptoms. I still try to avoid the stomach bug no matter what extreme I have to go to even if it means making myself crazy and everyone around me. I just hate to throw up!!! I'd rather have diarrhea for a week straight all day long then to throw up once!

I know EXACTLY what you mean!! I'm the same way!!!

We avoided the bug at WDW thankfully. Perhaps we got lucky?? Who knows....

 

[momtotwoteens]

Many of the bathrooms with hand dryers also have automatic sinks.
For those that don't, the part of your hands that you use to manipulate things, eat with etc. is the palm side. That is the side of your hand that you want to keep clean (for example, when you wash your hands before you eat).
That leaves a lot of your hand you can still turn things off with. You could push with the back of your hand or your knuckle or even your elbow. Since you are not using those areas to eat or manipulate things with, there is little chance of getting germs from those places into your body.

I hate to tell you what I do when there are no paper towels because it just proves even more how nuts I am. I grab a bunch of toilet paper and take it to the sink to dry my hands, turn off the faucets and open the door. (I'm really normal otherwise... I promise!)

 

[lukenick1]

Mom of six chiming in...just wondering...do those of you who hate vomiting so much not ever get morning sickness? I just am at a loss about those who think they are the only ones who hate vomiting. You are not unique or special in any way. I have yet to meet anyone who likes it.

Here maybe this will make it more clear to you. This is a phobia I struggle with everyday.

http://www.emetophobia.org/emetophobia fear of vomiting.asp

 

[All7OfUs]

You may all be doing yourselves more harm than good in the long run! Seriously, the stress alone of always trying to wage war on germs will probably bring on sickness faster than the normal things that are on everything around you in normal life. I would suggest a viewing of The Aviator to show you where this could lead!

 

[All7OfUs]

One more thing, most of the things you'll catch at WDW are probably airborne anyway. Whatcha gonna do- stop breathing??

 

[Del]

We sanitize after each ride. Everyone touching those railings....yuck! I am so glad there are people like me out there.

 

[pixie921]

I just have to say that all of you cautious people posting on this thread are very brave in opening yourselves up to the ridicule of some others on this board!

When we got back from WDW last week, there was a thread asking what you'd done (if anything) to avoid the "bug" at WDW, and if it had been successful. We stayed healthy and I listed what we'd used/done to remain that way. Other posters jumped to the ridiculous conclusion that I was some kind of crazy Monk-type person and how "sad" it was that I "forced" my family to live that way every day! Some were very rude about it.

Um ... HELLO ... we were hyper-careful AT WDW because of the illness reports, and every single one of us was HAPPY to take the precautions since we didn't miss a moment of our dream trip!