Masks at WDW???

[DNBois]

Please forgive me if I bring down the mood on these forums but I was just wondering, for those who have just returned from WDW, if they saw anyone wearing protective masks. I, myself, don't believe that DH and I will do such a thing when we arrive at the parks (2 weeks), but it may make us feel better if we knew that there were others who were as concerned as we are. This whole SARS epidemic issue is very disconcerting and the fact that we will be included in enormous groups of people, some of whom are perhaps from affected areas, it has become all the more real. We are not cancelling (bar any unforeseen circumstance) but we just want to know that others feel our concerns and maybe it will make us feel a little more secure if we knew that WDW is taking precautionary measures, like having protective masks on hand for customer purchases. What are your thoughts?

 

[admiral nelson]

The masks don't do anything, really.(saw that on a news. It looks like SARS is not even airborne. You need very close contact with someone who has had it. If you look into the disease more, you'd see more people die from the Flu, and you wouldn't wear a mask or be scared to catch that their, would you?

Just go and have a good time. Can't live life like Howard Hughes.

 

[Disbabe]

The type of masks I have seen on the news - surgical masks, have been proven to have an effective life of about 20-30 mins so they wouldn't offer long term protection anyway.
There have been 180 deaths worldwide - lets put this into perspective when you consider the population!!

 

[jaysue]

The #1 thing you can and should do is wash your hands with soap and hot water for at least as much time as it takes to sing the ABC song

Also, do not put your hands near or touch areas such as Eyes, Nose, Mouth, Ears until after washing

The reality is you might as well assume that the "affected areas" are pretty much global now - some areas like HK and Singapore are worse, Toronto gets a lot of press since it is in the media frenzy North American continent where RANTINGS = RATINGS in the media. 14 people have sadly died - in perspective out of over 4 Million in the region.

Flu/Car Accidents/Cancer/Smoking/Alcohol/Lifestyle factors - these are all far more deadly and serious than SARS but they are all "yesterday's news"

Thanks
Jason

 

[DNBois]

I understand what everyone is telling me and we are still going; it would just be nice if Disney had a proactive spin to the whole SARS issue. I will go with the assumption that the have a 'plan of action' in this case. I know everyone keeps mentioning that more individuals die of the flu but if you check, how many of those individuals are healthy and how many are infants, elderly of those with a weak immune system. I wouldn't consider myself pessimistic in so much as realistic and before today, I didn't give much thought to SARS. But after hearing this morning's news regarding the amounts of deaths in Toronto and Hong Kong, the reality became too real. A recent MSNBC poll showed that most Americans are most fearful of SARS, rather than any other threat. Perhaps DH should stop watching so much TV and scaring his DW

 

[Deb & Bill]

Surgical masks should be worn by those infected with the disease, so the mask will catch any big stuff if they cough. They won't prevent you from getting airborne germs because they leak and gap. Just make sure you wash your hands and avoid touching your mucous membranes with soiled or possibly soiled hands. Besides, you don't have to worry about catching SARS from airborne germs. Unless an infected person coughs right in your face.