How Often Do You Wash Hands?

I said it before and I'll say it again.  I'm a germaphobe!  I'm the kind of person who washes her hands a million times a day.  I know some people don't, and that's not ok.  But, how do you politely tell the girl who happens to walk into the bathroom the same time you do, use the toilet, and flees the scene to come back and wash her hands?  Normally, I mind my own business.  But, something like this can affect me and my child.  There are germs everywhere, especially on door knobs.  The lady who doesn't wash her hands could be spreading all kinds of germs to the next person who opens the same bathroom door.  I recently received a memo from my daughter's daycare warning parents about an illness that could affect children.  It's called Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV).

The memo states that there have been recent reports of a surge in this particular lung disease in southern Florida.  This respiratory virus can infect lungs and breathing passages.  It's known to mostly affect infants with immature immune systems, especially during winter months.  But, adults are certainly not exempt from contracting or spreading it.  Overall about five million children younger than four years old will get a respiratory infection with RSV each year, according to this memo.  It can be spread through coughing, sneezing, and saliva.  This virus lives on doorknobs, countertops, hands and clothing.  It may also easily be spread when someone touches a contaminated object, which confirms my point about the importance of hand washing after using the bathroom.  I know I'm probably over thinking this whole thing.  You may be thinking, "Who cares?"  But, I care!

Will washing my hands like a maniac totally eliminate the chances of Princess getting sick?  No.  But, I at least try to be as careful as possible.

The daycare is pretty good with keeping all the toys clean.  The teachers also wash the children's hands throughout the day.  But as much as they try to avoid spreading germs, it may not always work.  Princess has battled a lot of respiratory infections, since starting daycare.  Her immune system has gotten much stronger.  However, I'll continue to take measures to prevent our family from getting sick.  So, I'll be disinfecting everything, and making sure we wash our hands.

In retrospect, I'm glad I told that woman at the gym to come back and wash her hands.  She seemed surprised, but I had to do it.


Weather Anchor Mama