Proper use of Purell -- check the category this is in, please.

[Amigi'sLastStand]

Some ppl have tried to post what they thought were helpful threads lately, only to be attacked relentlessly but fellow WBers. So, I am hesitant to even write this one, but here goes.... I really dont feel like getting into a pissing contest with anyone over this.

I did a day hike yesterday, took my laptop with me, my daypack, stove, a nice steak, potatooes, etc. and hiked up the FT.

When I got to where I wa going to have lunch, there was a family of four picnicing(?). We exchanged our helloes, and I went about making my meal.

I noticed that the kids hands were filthy, as were the parents, but they were just cooking and eating away, so I offered up my Purell to them.

I got that "Are you judging us" look, so I just tossed out a little thing about rotovirus, hanta, dysentery, etc. not so much in a shock ( as Slogger likes to say ) but in a more seasoned and informative tone. They accepted it, and took the Purell.

Maybe they were trying to be kind, but they used about a dime size dollop, wiped their palms together, and then wiped their hands on their pants.

But this scene reminded me of how often I see ppl on trails do the exact same thing, so.....

Purell works by the alcohol killing off any surface nasties, then as in dries, the copolymer dries over your skin like a thin plastic glove for added protection.

Nothing beats soap and water, but as we all know, that is hard to come by out in the woods when packing light. So just be sure you use it properly. Lots of threads lately about water filtration, disease, and sanitation. Lots of ppl have pointed out that its may not be so much the water source getting ppl sick as bad hygiene. I mostly agree with that.

So, before you eat, or after going to the bathroom use liberal amount of hand sanitizer, massage it around your entire hand, then let it air dry. You are now good to go. Dont wipe your hands on your pants, or only clean your palms, or smoke a cig or dube while doing this!
Stay safe.

[Frolicking Dinosaurs]

or smoke a cig or dube while doing this!

LMAO

Good advice.

[VictoriaM]

Also, hand santizers are not meant to clean dirt or other organic material off your skin. If your hands are visibly dirty, wash them in water first to get the dirt off (doesn't have to be treated water) then use the sanitizer. A dime- to quarter-size drop is fine as long as you can cover your whole hand with it.

[adh24]

I take extremely good care of my hands cause I wear contacts. When I take them out at night I go through a thurow cleansing process. Have gotten eye infections before, never on the trail, they aren't fun especially when you wake up in the morning to puss that has sealed your eye shut. I did an over nighter this past march and a day after I got back both eyes were mildly infected. It was cold and rainy when setting up camp and I had been whiping my runny nose with my hand all day while hiking. Didn't clean them good enough, took out my contacts and the rest is history.

[Newb]

Lies! All LIES!

Bacteria have already begun to build resistances to our anti-bacterial compounds. By using Purell and other sanitizers you're only contributing to this process. You cleanliness freaks are actually helping to create super-bugs that will infect us traditionalist "dirty" people. I will curse you from my deathbed when I have Arboreal Necrotizing Assitis. In the end we're all doomed!

[Frolicking Dinosaurs]

Calm down, Newb. Your way more likely to poop yourself to death due to E. Coli in the woods than to die from Arboreal Necrotizing Fasciitis because " In order for someone to contract NF, the bacteria must be introduced into the body. This occurs either from direct contact with someone carrying the bacteria, or because of the bacteria being carried by the person him or herself."

[Ewker]

this thread was started by a guy with his finger up his nose

[Newb]

Calm down, Newb. Your way more likely to poop yourself to death due to E. Coli in the woods than to die from Arboreal Necrotizing Fasciitis because " In order for someone to contract NF, the bacteria must be introduced into the body. This occurs either from direct contact with someone carrying the bacteria, or because of the bacteria being carried by the person him or herself."

umm...I said Arboreal Necrotizing Assitis, not Fascitis. It's very similar to the dreaded Simian Buttcrackius Inflammamatus, but with deadly consequences. Fascitis is a different boat entirely.

[Amigi'sLastStand]

this thread was started by a guy with his finger up his nose

But it's a Purelled finger!

[Heater]

this thread was started by a guy with his finger up his nose

LMAO.......

[adh24]

But it's a Purelled finger!

"The Doctor said I wouldn't have so many nose bleeds if I kept my finger out of there."

[Heater]

It's much easier to just quit cleaning your house and hands and stop taking showers six months prior to your hiking. Build up a resistance.

...

[Just Jeff]

umm...I said Arboreal Necrotizing Assitis, not Fascitis. It's very similar to the dreaded Simian Buttcrackius Inflammamatus, but with deadly consequences. Fascitis is a different boat entirely.

Yep. And waking up to find that pus has sealed up your crack is even worse than losing an eye. Careful out there.

And at least Amigi's finger wasn't up someone else's nose, Purelled or snot.

[Footslogger]

You can pick your friends and you can pick your nose ...but you can't pick your friend's nose !!

Did someone say DOOBIE ??

'Slogger

[Brrrb Oregon]

Lies! All LIES!

Bacteria have already begun to build resistances to our anti-bacterial compounds. By using Purell and other sanitizers you're only contributing to this process. You cleanliness freaks are actually helping to create super-bugs that will infect us traditionalist "dirty" people. I will curse you from my deathbed when I have Arboreal Necrotizing Assitis. In the end we're all doomed!

Not quite.

Purell and waterless cleansers are not in the same chemical class as "antimicrobial" soaps.

Purell works by putting alcohol on your hand in a gel form. This is not something that microbiologists are concerned that bacteria will evolve resistance to. As already noted, however, it does not have the effectiveness one might hope when the hands are visibly coated in dirt. Purell won't hurt anything, but it won't make a manure-covered hand fit for work in the food service industry, either. The safest measures are to get as much visible filth off as possible, then use the Purell.

Antimicrobial soaps are another matter. Those contain compounds aimed more directly at bacteria. There have been some concern about those, but that is a topic for another thread.

At any rate, be careful who you curse. Sometimes you don't get the whole story, not even on your deathbed. But bless you for putting the common good over your own desire to avoid diarrhea. That's the spirit.

[Just Jeff]

Lies! All LIES!

Hrm...guess I better tell those pesky doctors to quit sanitizing w/ alcohol.

[hikerjohnd]

didn't someone say you have to eat a pound of dirt before you die?

[Just Jeff]

Never heard that before. I'd guess it depends on what's in the first bite!

But even so, go eat a half pound of dirt and let us know how you feel.

[Brrrb Oregon]

didn't someone say you have to eat a pound of dirt before you die?

My kids got that before preschool, with no signs of stopping.

When they were babies, they used to go trolling for little bits of food on the floor that the broom missed. We used to call the food bits "floor d'oeuvres".

If eating dirt is good for you, those kids might live forever. I don't quibble over the ten-second rule, but I still make them wash their hands before they eat. It's a mom thing.

[atraildreamer]

Has anyone seen my kid Ralphie? He's been hanging around with a undesirable crowd called the "Whiteblaze Gang". I don't know what he calls himself, but he is easy to recognize...he always has a finger up his nose!

Chief Wiggums

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