How abnormal will I look if I wear throw away gloves at buffets?

[formytinkerbelle]

I'm in nursing school and a current medical transcriptionist so this kind of stuff really interests me and I did some research. Norovirus can also be spread by touching your eyes so in fact the handrails and door handles and rides can be just as dangerous as when you eat because people touch their eyes ALL the time without even noticing it. It's a major way to spread illnesses that I don't think people really think of. That's why I said if you feel like you need to wear gloves at a buffet, you would need to all at the other places as well. Not trying to be mean, just trying to put it into perspective.

 

[princessmom29]

OP here,
First of all, I wasn't going to wear the big white surgical gloves that you see doctors wear. The gloves are think clear plastic type. I know there are some MD's on this site that have diagnosed me with OCD. That's fine but if your family members get sick and are in your room vomiting during your vacaiton after spending thousands of dollars, then come talk to me. And yes, I agree there are germs everywhere, but I do and have my children wash there hands frequently when we are on vacation, especially before we eat and we do sanitize as well. I know there is no way to totally eliminate germs from coming into contact with my family but there are steps we can take to reduce the chance of getting ill. I'm not worried about getting a cold, just don't want a stomach illness that can ruin our vacation. Hope everyone has a great vacation, Linda

You asked what people would think, and I would assume you were severely OCD if I saw it. That is not to say you are, but that would be my assumption. I know this has been siad multiple times here and you are unlikely to listen, but as a biochemist I have to try. Shielding your family from any and all gems is NOT the way to keep them form getting sick. Our bodies NEED to be exposed to germs to learn how to fight them. No exposue= no immune response. The "hand sanitizer epidemic" has led to a rise in minor childhood ilnesses, not a drop. Washing your hands before eating or touching your nose or eyes is still the best defense. Using hand sanitizer all the time, or using gloves is actually increasing the chance that when you and your kids DO get sick it will be BAD because you have no learned defense systems in place. Typically this is the cycle. A parnt sanitizes everything, their child comes inot contact with something and gets severly ill, the parent says "See, I told you" and continues santizing everything, which leads to another severe illness ect. Just wash your hands. You will be FINE!
FWIW I dno't sanitize, haven't since DD was a baby, and she has only ever had one, yes said one, stomach bug that lasted less than 24 hours in 7 years. SHe has been in daycare, preschool ect since she was an infant. She has a strong,healthy immune system that kicks most things out right away.

 

[kandb]

Princessmom,
I think you are missing the main point of this thread. I don't in my everyday life try to shield my children and myself from germs. I know germs are everywhere and it is important to expose yourself to them in order to build one's immune system. I TOTALLY agree. My point is that we are on our once a year vacation and we don't want to spend it sick. So for a week, I am going TRY to limit exposing my children, my husband and myself to picking up some nasty stomach bug at WDW. If we get a nasty stomach bug while at home, it would suck, and we would probably be house bound for a few days but it wouldn't ruin our one week at WDW, like it would if we got sick there. I know disney is filled with germs but I also know that we can take steps to lessen the probability of catching something. I know we cannot eliminate germ exposure during our trip. Not trying to do that, just trying to help our chances.

 

[princessmom29]

Princessmom,
I think you are missing the main point of this thread. I don't in my everyday life try to shield my children and myself from germs. I know germs are everywhere and it is important to expose yourself to them in order to build one's immune system. I TOTALLY agree. My point is that we are on our once a year vacation and we don't want to spend it sick. So for a week, I am going TRY to limit exposing my children, my husband and myself to picking up some nasty stomach bug at WDW. If we get a nasty stomach bug while at home, it would suck, and we would probably be house bound for a few days but it wouldn't ruin our one week at WDW, like it would if we got sick there. I know disney is filled with germs but I also know that we can take steps to lessen the probability of catching something. I know we cannot eliminate germ exposure during our trip. Not trying to do that, just trying to help our chances.

Good luck with that as in a place like WDW it is impossible. I think using rubber gloves at a buffet is going WAAAY too far. Like I said, wash your hands and you will be fine. sSe sanitizer if it makes you feel better. If someone who eats at the buffet has the nonovirus you are so scared of you would have to not touch anything your entire time there in order to not be exposed at all. Rubber gloves at the buffet are not ging to make a difference if someone in the restaurant has it. They will have touched chairs, tables, handrails, and thre is no gurantee about the silverware you will be eating with. You are actually much more likely to pick it up in the parks than at a buffet. I think you are being just a little paranoid. Take normal precautions and have a nice trip. Your vacation will be just as ruined if you spend the entire time obsessing about the posibility of catching something rather than having a good time. Nothing sucks the fun out of a trip like constant worry, and if you are going to the lengths of rubber gloves that seems to me to be what you are donig.

 

[PatsMom]

I would think someone wearing gloves at a buffet either had a mental illness or was just strange. But as someone already said, do you really care what other people think? You'll never see those people again!

With that said, I think the utensils are the least of your concern when it comes to picking up germs at a buffet. I've seen kids put things back, grab things with their fingers, breathe on the food, etc. I still eat it when my immune system is normal because my husband like buffets and the character meals are tons of fun. This January my immune system will be compromised by cancer treatment and we will not be doing any buffets. If you are worried enough that you are considering gloves, you might want to just rearrange your meal plans and avoid the buffets.

 

[kwelch10377]

Honestly if you are that concerned and want to lessen your chances, I would just skip the buffets. The gloves will really have very little impact and from what it seems you are going to spend more time focusing on avoiding germs at the buffet to the point where you won't enjoy your meal and the experience.

 

[maxiesmom]

Princessmom,
I think you are missing the main point of this thread. I don't in my everyday life try to shield my children and myself from germs. I know germs are everywhere and it is important to expose yourself to them in order to build one's immune system. I TOTALLY agree. My point is that we are on our once a year vacation and we don't want to spend it sick. So for a week, I am going TRY to limit exposing my children, my husband and myself to picking up some nasty stomach bug at WDW. If we get a nasty stomach bug while at home, it would suck, and we would probably be house bound for a few days but it wouldn't ruin our one week at WDW, like it would if we got sick there. I know disney is filled with germs but I also know that we can take steps to lessen the probability of catching something. I know we cannot eliminate germ exposure during our trip. Not trying to do that, just trying to help our chances.

I have to ask: Why are you picking out buffets as the place to wear gloves? You will be at a buffet such a small portion of your time at WDW. It just doesn't seem to be the place to be focusing all of your germ avoidance attention on.

(Totally random numbers ahead) We all spend what, 10% of our time eating at WDW? Why is the buffet the place you are choosing to spend all of your sick avoidance energy on? Why not the stuff you come into contact with more often? The railing, the lap belts, the hats in the store, the characters that are all drooled on. What you are wanting to do just doesn't make sense when you look at it from a total exposure time level.

 

[gizfish]

Princessmom,
I think you are missing the main point of this thread. I don't in my everyday life try to shield my children and myself from germs. I know germs are everywhere and it is important to expose yourself to them in order to build one's immune system. I TOTALLY agree. My point is that we are on our once a year vacation and we don't want to spend it sick. So for a week, I am going TRY to limit exposing my children, my husband and myself to picking up some nasty stomach bug at WDW. If we get a nasty stomach bug while at home, it would suck, and we would probably be house bound for a few days but it wouldn't ruin our one week at WDW, like it would if we got sick there. I know disney is filled with germs but I also know that we can take steps to lessen the probability of catching something. I know we cannot eliminate germ exposure during our trip. Not trying to do that, just trying to help our chances.

It's all rather simple. NOTHING replaces washing your hands with warm water, soap and lots of friction (for at least 30 seconds..try thinking twinkle twinkle or the alphabet song) before you eat. Any healthcare worker knows that the step after removing there gloves is WASH THEIR HANDS, so technically, you would have to wash your hands after wearing the gloves anyway. Of course, you are going to pull your chair into the table...opps gems there, or use the ketchup...oh more germs....it goes on and on.

If you cannot wash your hands, use a hand sanitizer. Yes, they may not kill all germs, but if you use enough of the product, again with lots of friction, there is an excellent chance you will rub those nasties off.

Wearing gloves will look crazy and will probably make many people scared of you. I am pretty sure someone working there would ask why your family were wearing gloves. I am also betting your children would be very embarrassed if they were made to wear gloves every time they went to get food.

If the illness your kids had "only" caused vomiting it wasn't norwalk anyway. You may think they got it from eating, but the odds are way higher they got it touching a rail, a door, a seat, etc and not realizing they then touched their faces.

 

[Pumbaa_]

OP you have gotten many opinions and advice. GOod luck on your trip and have a great time

Time to wrap this one up