Great safety tips from a medical doctor about Covid-19

[DaveNV]

This video has excellent tips about how to safely deal with groceries and such during this time. Well worth watching. Please share it far and wide.

Stay healthy,
Dave

 

[WinniWoman]

Well I can't even get all the groceries I need, nor can I get disinfectant. I use soap and water and I have not done any of this. I have the bags all over my counter. I take everything out and put them away and that is it.

One thing I was concerned about is I took all my husbands pills out of the bottle to count them and I had them laying on the bag the pills came in and I realized that was not a good idea and then put them on our counter- lol - another bad idea I guess but they will be in the fridge for awhile now as he still has pills from his old prescription.

We do take some things out of the boxes before putting in the freezer due to limited space.

Well- this guy is handling all that packaging and food with his hands. I don't get it.

And, yes- I am 63 and I go out to the store myself and so does my husband. This is all insanity. I hope we don't die, but we are all going to get this sooner or later anyway- I cannot go through all this every time.

 

[elaine]

thanks! great info. DH also used sterile analogy yesterday.

 

[DaveNV]

I hope we don't die, but we are all going to get this sooner or later anyway- I cannot go through all this every time.

I think the point is for everybody not to get it at the same time. That is what is overwhelming the system. If it's spread out over time, the medical folks can handle the demand. That's what all the "Flatten the curve" thing is about.

Yes, this video didn't do things perfectly. But if you watch it all the way through, he does make the point about how to clean packaging and how to treat things others may have handled. It was obviously a demonstration video (some of his packaging had already been opened), and would be helpful information for those who are worried about what they're bringing into the house.

Dave

 

[WinniWoman]

I think the point is for everybody not to get it at the same time. That is what is overwhelming the system. If it's spread out over time, the medical folks can handle the demand. That's what all the "Flatten the curve" thing is about.

Yes, this video didn't do things perfectly. But if you watch it all the way through, he does make the point about how to clean packaging and how to treat things others may have handled. It was obviously a demonstration video (some of his packaging had already been opened), and would be helpful information for those who are worried about what they're bringing into the house.

Dave

I watched the whole thing. I get it about the curve thing. I guess I could end up being a sooner rather than later patient.

BTW- last night on the news someone asked a doctor about concerns over cardboard boxes that are delivered to the home. She said that the risk is so miniscule it is not worth worrying over. If you want to worry, she said leave it outside for a day and then open it.

 

[bluehende]

My work involved a lot of sterile technique to maintain cell cultures. The ironic part is we were actually protecting what we were working with from us. That was a very good video. I will add two things.

Sterile technique is basically an accounting process where instead of plus minus you think dirty and clean. One thing that would have been nice is if he also transferred that technique to good hand bad hand. Especially with the cereal box he was handling the cardboard and then touched the plastic bag. In these situations you open with one hand and then take out the inside packaging with the clean hand.

Also a lot of people are using the disposable gloves. If you do not know how to properly take them off using sterile technique google how to.

 

[bluehende]

I watched the whole thing. I get it about the curve thing. I guess I could end up being a sooner rather than later patient.

BTW- last night on the news someone asked a doctor about concerns over cardboard boxes that are delivered to the home. She said that the risk is so miniscule it is not worth worrying over. If you want to worry, she said leave it outside for a day and then open it.

This

I actually did what the video promoted. Even though I know that the chances of significant spread through groceries is nil it was something I can control so why not.

 

[DaveNV]

Especially with the cereal box he was handling the cardboard and then touched the plastic bag. In these situations you open with one hand and then take out the inside packaging with the clean hand.

I saw that, too. But taken in its entirety, I think it's collectively better than having no knowledge of anything like this. For those who have no idea about this sort of things at all, I thought it was helpful.

I've been questioning from the beginning about sanitizing shopping carts - they wipe off the handle, but not the interior? Not much good, since the inside of the cart could be more contaminated that the handle.

And at stores like Costco or Safeway, with refrigerator and freezer cases with doors - and handles on those doors. What keeps those handles form becoming very contaminated? I've taken to wearing gloves while shopping.

Dave

 

[WinniWoman]

I saw that, too. But taken in its entirety, I think it's collectively better than having no knowledge of anything like this. For those who have no idea about this sort of things at all, I thought it was helpful.

I've been questioning from the beginning about sanitizing shopping carts - they wipe off the handle, but not the interior? Not much good, since the inside of the cart could be more contaminated that the handle.

And at stores like Costco or Safeway, with refrigerator and freezer cases with doors - and handles on those doors. What keeps those handles form becoming very contaminated? I've taken to wearing gloves while shopping.

Dave

Exactly. And then everything you touch with gloves- now the gloves are contaminated as you continue to touch stuff with them unless you replace them for everything you touch, LOL!

 

[DaveNV]

Exactly. And then everything you touch with gloves- now the gloves are contaminated as you continue to touch stuff with them unless you replace them for everything you touch, LOL!

Not if you wipe your gloves with sanitizer between "grabs."

It's not a perfect science, but something is likely much better than nothing.

Dave

 

[bluehende]

I saw that, too. But taken in its entirety, I think it's collectively better than having no knowledge of anything like this. For those who have no idea about this sort of things at all, I thought it was helpful.

I've been questioning from the beginning about sanitizing shopping carts - they wipe off the handle, but not the interior? Not much good, since the inside of the cart could be more contaminated that the handle.

And at stores like Costco or Safeway, with refrigerator and freezer cases with doors - and handles on those doors. What keeps those handles form becoming very contaminated? I've taken to wearing gloves while shopping.

Dave

It is all a numbers game. The real threat is inhaling or getting in your mouth direct aerosols from an in infected person. Even if 2 seconds before you grab that handle someone with the virus touched it you have a few instances of dilution. First you have dilution from the contaminated hand touching the handle. Then you have dilution as you grab the handle. Then you have another dilution as you touch your face or mouth to transfer. If there was a real danger the R dev of the virus (this is the number of people a person is expected to infect) would be very high. This virus has an R dev of 2.5. Imagine how many surfaces are touched by a person in the time they are contagious. It is all a numbers game. Every contact has some risk. VERY VERY small risk. It is the amount of contacts you have that slowly moves us into the highest potential of small risk from this virus. In a society as big as ours those small risks add up to some pretty big numbers.

The way to keep that risk low is to avoid contacts especially the more risky ones of actual contact with people. Don't touch your face which is the last transfer in the infection route that most people can control or worry about. If you are in a high risk group double down on limiting contact.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

@WinniWoman If you can't find disinfectant you can mix bleach with water in a spray bottle or mix hydrogen peroxide with vinegar or water in a spray bottle. Check the Internet for exact measurements.

 

[Icc5]

I saw that, too. But taken in its entirety, I think it's collectively better than having no knowledge of anything like this. For those who have no idea about this sort of things at all, I thought it was helpful.

I've been questioning from the beginning about sanitizing shopping carts - they wipe off the handle, but not the interior? Not much good, since the inside of the cart could be more contaminated that the handle.

And at stores like Costco or Safeway, with refrigerator and freezer cases with doors - and handles on those doors. What keeps those handles form becoming very contaminated? I've taken to wearing gloves while shopping.

Dave

When done with shopping either use sanitizer or soap and water. Again at home.

 

[1st Class]

This is most helpful for those who are visual learners. If you've ever changed a dressing for a cut or an infection, you have basically set up a sterile field just as the gentleman in the video is demonstrating. I also line the grocery cart with newspaper, but don't disinfect the entire cart. Then the newspapers go in the trash before returning the cart.

To add to the above comment about safely removing contaminated gloves, here's a little guidance:

 

[WinniWoman]

@WinniWoman If you can't find disinfectant you can mix bleach with water in a spray bottle or mix hydrogen peroxide with vinegar or water in a spray bottle. Check the Internet for exact measurements.

Thanks. I use plain soap or dishwashing liquid sometimes. I do not keep bleach in the house as it ruins stuff. Though I wonder if there is even any bleach on the shelves anyway. I do have white vinegar and I believe I have just a little hydrogen peroxide left in a bottle from years ago.

 

[WinniWoman]

This is most helpful for those who are visual learners. If you've ever changed a dressing for a cut or an infection, you have basically set up a sterile field just as the gentleman in the video is demonstrating. I also line the grocery cart with newspaper, but don't disinfect the entire cart. Then the newspapers go in the trash before returning the cart.

To add to the above comment about safely removing contaminated gloves, here's a little guidance:

View attachment 18254

You get newspapers? LOL! I threw my handbag in the cart today= the seat part- but I did wipe it down. I never take my hand bag in a store, but I wanted to carry my disinfecting wipes in it into the store.

As for the cart itself I do nothing but put my food in it. What do you do when you have to put the food on the belt at the cash register? LOL! Then the bagger puts stuff in the bags. You cannot sterilize everything.

 

[bbodb1]

I saw that, too. But taken in its entirety, I think it's collectively better than having no knowledge of anything like this. For those who have no idea about this sort of things at all, I thought it was helpful.

I've been questioning from the beginning about sanitizing shopping carts - they wipe off the handle, but not the interior? Not much good, since the inside of the cart could be more contaminated that the handle.

And at stores like Costco or Safeway, with refrigerator and freezer cases with doors - and handles on those doors. What keeps those handles form becoming very contaminated? I've taken to wearing gloves while shopping.

Dave

...or using wipes to grab the handle....
I have been grabbing 3 to 4 as i enter a store.

 

[1st Class]

Ha Ha! I don't, but DH does. I actually pack my own bags and wipe things down like the man in the video, including my credit card! I agree you can't sterilize everything, but I sterilize what I can because every little bit helps.

 

[pedro47]

DaveNW, thanks that was an excellent video and I have Shared it.

 

[SandyPGravel]

This is most helpful for those who are visual learners. If you've ever changed a dressing for a cut or an infection, you have basically set up a sterile field just as the gentleman in the video is demonstrating. I also line the grocery cart with newspaper, but don't disinfect the entire cart. Then the newspapers go in the trash before returning the cart.

To add to the above comment about safely removing contaminated gloves, here's a little guidance:

View attachment 18254

Unbeknownst to me I have been taking gloves off the sterile way forever. I was always trying to keep the wet paint, stain, epoxy etc contained and not get it on my hands as I was removing the gloves. Plus then it keeps the wet paint contained inside the gloves when thrown in the trash.

 

[pedro47]

This is most helpful for those who are visual learners. If you've ever changed a dressing for a cut or an infection, you have basically set up a sterile field just as the gentleman in the video is demonstrating. I also line the grocery cart with newspaper, but don't disinfect the entire cart. Then the newspapers go in the trash before returning the cart.

To add to the above comment about safely removing contaminated gloves, here's a little guidance:

View attachment 18254

Now I have learned how to removed gloves the correct way.
Thanks you.