Help solve a spouse debate on germs, sickness and Disney

[chicagogrl]

I do use hand sanitizer (but not constantly) and wash my hands after using the restroom and before meals.
My husband doesn't use the hand sanitizer at all. Washes his hands though.
I am usually the one who gets sick!

 

[mom25kiddos]

I dislike hand sanitizer more than I dislike germs-some of the hand sanitizers smell quite fruity and may be of interest to little ones. Also, not so sure I want them licking that stuff off their hands while they eat. The evidence shows me that we are over cautious, over protective and we are harming our children's immune system by never exposing them to common germs. If they can't handle a simple rhinovirus, how do we expect their bodies to tackle something big?

 

[waffocopter]

I have a colleague who use a piece of toilet paper to open the door to the bathroom and to turn on the water to wash her hands afterwards. .

I do this with paper towels when practical all the time. My work environment pretty much consists of cleanrooms and then even cleaner cleanrooms. We were actually taught at orientation to use this method and I still follow it to this day.

I see people leave their stalls and leave the bathroom right after washing their hands and I do not want to touch the door handles they've touched right after I've thoroughly washed my hands and then go and eat a meal. I'm definitely going to stick with this at Disney. Hoping the restrooms at WDW actually are doorless (just those open entrances) and have automatic faucets. Solves everyone's problems!

 

[themilesfamily]

The ONLY year I didn't end up with a major cold/sore throat was the year we went in the midst of the global H1N1 outbreak, (was it 2009?), and because of that outbreak I was hyper-vigilant about everyone using hand sanitizer, washing hands, avoiding handrails, etc. So I feel like our efforts paid off. I'll put myself in the germ-phobic sanitizing category.

 

[ArmyVet80]

I do the exact same things at Disney that I do in the rest of my life - wash hands before eating and after using bathrooms, and don't lick handrails or strangers' faces.

I think this may be the best thing I have read on DIS..

 

[bumbershoot]

Please help solve a little debate for DH and I. We have very different approaches on germs and Disney.

DH approach: touch lots of things without concern, don't wash hands after rides or at all throughout the day, wash hands before meals if it is convenient, hope you don't get sick, but if you do it's just a part of life.

My approach: try not to needlessly run your hands along handrails, etc, use hand sanitizer/wipes after rides, wash with soap and water before eating, try to avoid sickness by doing what you can (while knowing that you can't avoid everything and want to have fun in the process).

We're truly curious your thoughts and experiences on this and if either approach really makes a difference... what approach do you/your family use and what have been the results on getting sick or not during or after your vacation? Thanks!

Well (without reading any other replies)...is it working for each of you?

My son and I don't wash our hands enough and two January trips in a row got really really REALLY sick at WDW. I was sick on the way there; landed on the 4th and was really ill by the 6th, so I was sick, but didn't know it yet, on the plane, really. DS got it a few days later. That was the first January. Alas it was a FOUR week trip. The 4th week was a cruise; we were barely able to answers the questions on the health questionnaire truthfully while still getting onboard (we did, though, we were truthful AND we sailed)...we were so tired until the 4th day of it. In the first 2 weeks I lost so much extra weight my *small* jeans were hanging off me. I looked quite a sight when we picked up DH at the airport!

Second January trip we both had a viral lung thing then got home, got better, and it turned into a double bacterial ear infection. Nasty nasty nasty. (it was then that our naturopath suggested a few things to do to strengthen our immune systems, woo!)

I actually got sick on our first WDW trip, December 2010 when it was so cold. Lost my voice about 10 days in and didn't get it back for over a month after we were home.

DH gets none of these illnesses. And he washes his hands as much as we do. (or as little) But I'm more of a nail biter than he is, and DS is a kid and tends to put his fingernails in his mouth b/c kids do that. So there's a difference. But also, DH just has a heartier system than we do.


After my Feb trip to run Princess 5 and 10K with my cousin, I'm done with Orlando in the winter. It's just too variable. The 30 degree swings in temperature really tax my system and bring me down. I can't live like that. Add in jet lag, exhaustion, walking so many hours in the day, some stress, and restaurant food, and I'm just toast. Give me more stable temperatures at least.

 

[Minniesgal]

There are far higher amounts of cases of auto immune diseases in the developed world where we are over using things like disinfectant and hand sanitizer than the developing world. Immune systems need to be used not over protected. We are getting too careful and it is damaging collectively our health.

We wash hands after toilet and before meals we also never drink tap water other than that we live. Never ever use hand sanitzer soap and water is enough.

 

[bumbershoot]

When we were at DHS and we were in the basement of ToT waiting in the line there was a little kid in front of us that kept licking the railing as everyone moved up the stairs and across the walkway getting to the elevators. His parents were not watching and were not aware.......that would be a little tough to wash.

See, I SAY something now. I've become the "everyone's mom" that will say "oh sweetie, don't do that!" about licking a window or that sort of thing. I tell parents. I actually intervened when a toddler was standing in the *seat* part of a grocery store cart, and mom and big sis were looking the other way. People were just passing by that situation, staring in horror, and I couldn't. Turned out I knew the mom casually from the Y. That kid is her no-fear kid. But they already knew that CPS asks "why was the child standing in the cart" when a child falls from the cart, so I'm not sure why that situation was allowed to start (we knew that question b/c we were asked it by 18,000 healthcare people when DS fell, while standing on the floor, at Target and knocked himself out), but maybe they left the bungee cords in the car ha ha ha.

But I digress. The point is, when I see something over the top like that, I speak up now. 5 years ago I wouldn't have. But that's just nasty. (for them and for the people to follow)

 

[hamilkm]

Other than washing hands before meals and after the restroom we never do anything differently. I'm a pharmacist and germs are actually good for you to some extent! It's how you build up your immune system. Too much hand sanitizer can be bad for a normal person. Now people who are sick or who have compromised immune systems or the very old or very young may need these extra precautions. I also think working in a hospital has pretty much made me immune to everything, lol! I have never gotten sick at Disney, but I have gotten sick every time I have flown to Las Vegas......

 

[Nancyg56]

I am curious as to when hand sanitizer became a thing. When I was a kid, we just washed our hands and went about our business. I do the same thing with my DDs now. I actually don't even own any hand sanitizer, which horrifies my wonderful cousin. She brings paper plates with her when she travels, removes hotel bedspreads by holding them with her elbows, and wipes down almost every hard surface with sanitizer. She's constantly offering sanitizer to my kids when we go out to eat together. And I'll let you guess whose children are sick more often

I know! I never even heard about it whle i was a kid or when my kids were growing up. I stall am glad to have it though, because there are times when you cannot wash your hands and if nothing else, I feel better at those times.

We are not fanatics, we wash as often as seems reasonable, so after using the rest room, before and after meals.(I tend to feel sticky after sandwiches!) and after any time we run into something that is just gross!

I do bring zip top bag for the remote and the first thing I do is toss it in, seal it and thats that. I will wipe down the seat belts on the plane, and use my wipes becuase I think that seats and armrests on an airplane are pretty neglected between flights.

My husband farms and so far, no matter what we manage to come into contact with, we are pretty healthy, so I figure that as long as we use soap and water, keep our hands away from faces, and sanitizer when basic hygiene is not possible, we are good.

 

[sunshine1]

I am convinced I got strep throat when I saw the World of Color show at DCA.
Ridemax said that you wouldnt get that wet if you stood in the front row. They were very wrong: I got soaked.
I was ill for a few days and had to pay $110 to see a doctor when I got to Orlando for the second aprt of my disney trip.

 

[fla4fun]

I was at WDW a few years back during one of the most virulent Norovirus outbreaks in recent history. I did not get sick.

I carry the individually wrapped Wet Ones towelettes. I use one before eating or drinking anything. Apart from that, I wash my hands like I normally would (restroom breaks or if they get dirty from something) and I don't concern myself too much about what I touch. I also avoid touching my face at all. It took a while to get used to that, but once you do, that helps a lot.

 

[IndianaMouse]

DD has a weakened immune system so we try to be careful without going overboard. We take vitamins, get plenty of rest, keep our hands away from our faces and wash hands after using the bathroom and before eating. The only extra steps we take is to avoid touching hand rails as much as possible and to use purell wipes before eating snacks and after coming out of rides or attractions that are "hands on". Mostly Buzz, Toy Story and after coming out of Image Works.

I do wipe down tables with Purell wipes but that didn't start until I read quite a few posts on here about people using tables to change their kids diapers

 

[720L]

I also avoid touching my face at all. It took a while to get used to that, but once you do, that helps a lot.

This is one of the HUGE things that helps.

 

[jsmla]

Too lazy to read every page so sorry if this has already been suggested.

My mother was a virologist and epidemiologist and we were raised to avoid touching stuff, wash our hands often and, most importantly, keep your hands away from your face. She said that most common diseases are transmitted when you touch your mouth or nose with germy hands.

 

[chelynnah]

I think germ-phobia is responsible for more and more issues including asthma and allergies, and there is research to back that up. When our daughter was an infant, she crawled on the floor, sucked on her toes, put everything and anything in her mouth. My best friend's son was close in age. Every time he dropped his pacifier, mom sterilized it. She wiped his hands every time he touched anything. She was vigilant about what went into his mouth. Guess which kid was always sick and suffered from more allergies.

Let your immune system do its job. I wash my hands when I leave the bathroom. That's about it when on vacation.

This^^^

There's decent precautions and then there's over sterilisation and if children never have a chance to build their immune system then they will drop at every little bug that comes along. We managed to survive years without antibacterial on every surface and our hands a gazillion times a day. Now we are creating superbugs because this is now exactly what people do.

If you struggle with autoimmune (or similar), or one of your kids does then absolutely go for it, otherwise back away from the sanitiser and enjoy your holiday.

I used to come home sick from any trips abroad (I live in the UK, my immediate family and friends are in Canada). By the time I travelled back I was in the throes of a nasty cold. I think it's the dry recycled air on the plane that starts it, it's not helped by the constant on the go pace. A friend recommended a natural immune booster called Astragalus which I have taken religiously ever since before during and after the trip. The first trip I used a medium dose and got sick just after I got home, but not as bad. After that I used the absolute maximum dose recommended and have never been sick on or from a flying trip again.

 

[disneysteve]

I used to come home sick from any trips abroad (I live in the UK, my immediate family and friends are in Canada). By the time I travelled back I was in the throes of a nasty cold. I think it's the dry recycled air on the plane that starts it, it's not helped by the constant on the go pace.

A lot of people get sick during travel, especially when air travel is involved. It has nothing to do with touching railings or TV remotes. Most of this stuff is airborne. You get sick on a plane because there are 150 people breathing and coughing and sneezing in recirculated air for a few hours. Wiping off your tray table or seat belt latch isn't going to fix that.

The other big factors are disrupted sleep patterns and altered diet habits while traveling. You can soak in a tub of hand sanitizer and it won't alter the effect of those issues.

 

[eliza61]

Please help solve a little debate for DH and I. We have very different approaches on germs and Disney.

DH approach: touch lots of things without concern, don't wash hands after rides or at all throughout the day, wash hands before meals if it is convenient, hope you don't get sick, but if you do it's just a part of life.

My approach: try not to needlessly run your hands along handrails, etc, use hand sanitizer/wipes after rides, wash with soap and water before eating, try to avoid sickness by doing what you can (while knowing that you can't avoid everything and want to have fun in the process).

We're truly curious your thoughts and experiences on this and if either approach really makes a difference... what approach do you/your family use and what have been the results on getting sick or not during or after your vacation? Thanks!

Way too much work for me. I'm a wash hands after bathroom and before meals gal. If I touch some thing particularly nasty I may wash then but between rides we don't do anything.

Hand sanitizes especially the alcohol based ones are one of the worst things around for you. doesn't prevent illness, doesn't help your germ fighting ability and horrible over the long run for your skin. never understand why people use 'em.

wiping a tray down or a handrail doesn't do a darn thing.

 

[chelynnah]

A lot of people get sick during travel, especially when air travel is involved. It has nothing to do with touching railings or TV remotes. Most of this stuff is airborne. You get sick on a plane because there are 150 people breathing and coughing and sneezing in recirculated air for a few hours. Wiping off your tray table or seat belt latch isn't going to fix that.

The other big factors are disrupted sleep patterns and altered diet habits while traveling. You can soak in a tub of hand sanitizer and it won't alter the effect of those issues.

Exactly

 

[eliza61]

I wonder if folks realize that the cell phone that we put up against our faces non stop are dirtier than all the other places we sanitize in an effort to protect ourselves.