Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Hand Sanitizers


So, going through my normal routine today, I realized how often I use hand sanitizers or alcohol wipes. Whenever I drop my son off at pre-school, it's the first thing I do when I get back in the car. Yah I'm probably a little obsessive about it. You know (or at least you've been told) that school or daycare is a breeding ground for germs. My question would be, is it really helping me from getting sick from the spread of germs? I think so, but that's only because of the past 30 years of becoming a germaphobe from everything you read or hear. You hear it all the time - the gas pump has more germs on it than anything else. Or you want to know where most germs hang out? Your computer keyboard. Or your steering wheel.

So given the fact that I pretty much work at a keyboard all day and I'm not spraying it with disinfectant, could it be that I'm just wasting my time and money with these sanitizing products? We can't live in a bubble and you're going to be exposed to germs no matter how much you sanitize. Cavemen certainly didn't have sanitizers. Should we? Could I be putting myself at more risk of getting sick by using them?

DJ

1 comment:

Chuck said...

personally, i feel people should spend more time bolstering their own immune system than trying to constantly cleanse themselves of unavoidable germs. this study pretty much tells us these antibacterials are worthless. http://www.chicagotribune.com/health/la-heb-hand-sanitizers-dont-work-20100913,0,553132.story