swine flu & Scarby

[AnnMarie B]

The chlorine reacts with water and becomes very acidic dissolving the coating and penetrating the wood. Plain soap and water works just as well for washing mugs as it does on your hands, and overuse of hand sanitizer can actually increase your risk of contracting a virus. The sanitizing agent (usually Triclosan) is found in almost all soap products today and viruses and bacteria have become very resistant to it. Ordinary soap and water won't kill the germs but it does remove them from your hands and washes them down the drain. Lather and scrub your hands for 45 - 60 seconds and you should be good. Use a paper towel to turn the faucet on/off so you do not reinfect your hands. I certainly recommend frequent hand washing and cleaning of any drinking vessels since swine flu, or any flu for that matter, is usually contracted by touching an infected surface then rubbing your eyes or touching your nose and mouth. Keep in mind that viruses are inhibited or destroyed by heat, humidity and especially the UV rays in sunlight, all things found in abundance at Scarby. Since we usually carry our mugs on our belts they are exposed all day to sunlight which will effectively sanitize them better than any chemical.

I spent many years as a paramedic and have seen and been exposed to many infectious outbreaks so here is my advice: Keep the swine flu scare in perspective, it is really no worse than the more common forms of influenza we deal with every year.

I agree that everyone needs to just realx and take normal "cold and flu season" precautions.  However, the reason doctors and school officials recommend "an alcohol based hand sanitizer" such as Purell or Germ-X is because it is made with alcohol, not Triclosan which is an antibactirial agent.  You are exactly right about the Triclosan- the germs are becoming resistant and it makes us more likely to get sick.  The alcohol-based cleansers are anti-microbial on the other hand and kill many types of organisms without much chance of the germs developing a resistance. As the mother of five kids, I am well aware that it is impossible to keep all the germs away.  We will be exposed to things no matter how careful we are.  Hand sanitizer is good because it is so portable and can be used even when you don't have access to water, so don't count it out.  Hope everyone has a fun and illness -free weekend. 

[Lady Ann of Draycott]

...so here is my advice: Keep the swine flu scare in perspective, it is really no worse than the more common forms of influenza we deal with every year.

Finally! I voice of reason...tis music to my ears...

[cyberrennie]

This weekend Scarborough is open... rain or swine!

[Trixie]

Lady de Laney,
       I do remember the Swine Flu panic of 1976 very well. At that time is thought we would loose our entire Senior Citzen poplulation if those over 60 did not get the Swine Flu vaccine.
Unfortunately, the vaccine was worse then the actual flu. My dear sweet Great-Grandpa Fred died from the Vaccine -Not the flu in Feb 1977. I heard on the radio yesterday admitting the swine flu vaccine of 1976 did more harm then good, that more died from it or had severe reactions to it then the flu itself!!
   I was watching Dr. Oz on The View say that the surgical masks do not help againist the  swine flu or any other. He said hand washing and sanitzers were the best defense.
  Aye, I shall be at the Faire in the drink booth near the joust. So please come say Hello when ye have a need to quench thy thirst.

Trixie

[*Teach*]

Ya'll have no idea how many times I have had to explain to students and non-science teachers how little of a threat this truly is.
Our school is ringed by schools that were closed and so people were terrified by the whole mess.
Folks... it's just the flu. Take normal flu season precautions and everything will be just fine.


*Kick back... Enjoy some rum and don't worry about it. Best solution there is.*

[Queen Bonnie]

 LOL! I love it Teach!
The news is making this seem WAY worse than it is.
No way will I give up faire because of swine flu.
Snort! Oink!
Stay safe all.

[Al-Nimer]

So I think the death toll from H1N1 now for the entire U.S. is a whopping 1 (according to Wikipedia, and that one being a Mexican toddler), while the death toll from regular influenza for the same time period (last 10 days or so) is maybe around 215!  No worries here 

[Tukaram]

Everyone notice all the hand sanitizer stations put up this week?  Got to love the false sense of security.  It makes me feel almost as safe as taking our shoes off at the airport!

Actually I'm just glad they didn't cancel the fair like Mayfest... but I do wish Dallas ISD would close for a week (I need some time off).

[Trigger]

everyone prepare for the aporkalypse!

i wish they would confirm a case at my workplace so i didn't have to go. *sigh*

[eloquentXI]

As much as it would be great for school to get out for a week, there would be such a mess to figure out if they shut down the Universities up here, including finals and getting all the oncampus students elsewhere.

[Pyroguy]

My family and I survived this weekend at Scarby! I did notice the thousand hand sanitizers in booths and on posts throughout fair. I even had to use them. They ran out of soap in the privies...
*"Bring out yer dead... Bring out yer dead..."

[Love Good Wood]

*"Bring out yer dead... Bring out yer dead..."

*" I feel happy..."

[AnnMarie B]

*"Bring out yer dead... Bring out yer dead..."

*" I feel happy..."

"oh so happy..."

[Queen Bonnie]

 But I'm not dead yet! LOL!

[Cobaltblu]

It almost adds to the atmosphere of the renaissance faire to have people worried about swine flu (plague).

And recently the government reported that the swine flu doesn't appear to be more deadly than normal flu.

Regards,

CB