The stupidest swine flu prevention technique I've heard of...

salt78 · September 2009

My younger brothers just started back to school yesterday. They attend a small private school and it's tradition that every kid has to shake hands with teachers when they come in to school for the day and at dismissal (I don't know why...I had to shake the headmaster's hand when I came to school in the morning too). Anyway, the kids came home with a packet from the principal yesterday explaining that because of the H1N1 scare, they were not going to be doing the handshakes anymore. Instead they have asked the students to [b]bump elbows with the teachers[/b]. Seriously? Do any of the teachers on here have similar things that they have been asked to do because of the flu? Anyway, I think that is the dumbest thing I have heard in a long time. Especially because in the next paragraph it states that when you cough or sneeze, please do so into the crook of your elbow or your shoulder. My 13 year old brother told me that when he gets to school this morning, he is going to hack into his elbow and then go up for the elbow bump with his teacher.

AlexiaANDRobert · September 2009

At Church, everyone shakes hands and greets each other and holds hands during the Our Father. They gave us permission not to do that for a while. You know, cause that's helpful when someone is hacking in the pew behind you. Salt, I think your little brother is cool.

He sounds like my little brother.

vallyhoo · September 2009

The only solution I see is to do chest bumps instead. Problem solved.And I am one of those people who sneezes and coughs into my elbows so, yah, doesn't make much sense to me either.

Soon-to-be Mrs. Vogt · September 2009

That is absolutely ridiculous. However, the coughing into the elbow should be done on the crook (the inside of the arm) and if you're elbow bumping, it would be done with the outside of the arm. So, no real germ transfer. And even if you did transfer to the elbow, it would be the same effect as coughing into the elbow. Very rarely do I touch my eyes or mouth with my elbow.

salt78 · September 2009

I definitely agree that it would cut down on germ transfer, but it's more like put your little tradition aside if it's really that much of a concern and just say a friendly hello in the morning with no kind of handshake at all. The whole idea of bumping elbows with someone, especially when it's supposed to be a serious thing with a teacher, is just dumb as hell to me. I'm going to start elbow bumping clients that come in for meetings because I'm afraid of the swine flu.

MeaghanandMichael · September 2009

Think of how quickly elbow bumping will get old. The first few days when people are in high back to school spirits it may be funny or overexagerrated. Think of how much these teachers are going to want to quit by week 2 of this nonsense.

janedoe1113a · September 2009

They have sent out multiple emails to faculty and staff (I work at a university btw) saying that about 18,000 of our students are going to get H1N1 this semester. So they recommend you get a flu buddy to bring you food. Wtf? Can you not cook for yourself when you're sick?

AlexiaANDRobert · September 2009

Sidenote: I had swine and live with my parents, my sister, my brother and our friend. Sister, brother, friend and I all share a bathroom. AND we all went on vacation with my other sister her husband and my FI and were in EXTREMELY close quarters.Touching door knobs, actually FI always drinks out of my glass, sharing a bathroom, etc. NONE of them got swine. So, I think it all just depends on the person.

AlexiaANDRobert · September 2009

Navy, the 2nd week, I spent two days in bed and wouldn't have eaten if someone didn't bring me food. I had ZERO energy. I was amazed I got up to go to the bathroom. I didn't shower or even brush my teeth. I slept A LOT.

salt78 · September 2009

LOL @ flu buddy. Maybe I can write a cute little card like how some girls ask their friends to be bridesmaids and invite someone to be my flu buddy.

janedoe1113a · September 2009

Alexia -- You had it for 2 weeks? Well, damn our university is way off when they're saying students will only be missing a week of classes.

Soon-to-be Mrs. Vogt · September 2009

I think basically what it's saying is that "we've changed our traditions for fear of getting sick, so now there's no chance you'll get the pig herp whatsoever." Wrong. Pass out bottles of sanitizer and teach kids in high school good hand hygiene. That's the better use of time and is much more respectful than bumping elbows with an authority figure.

vallyhoo · September 2009

Salt, yes I will be your flu buddy.::elbow bump::xoxo

georgia_bride09 · September 2009

Very rarely do I touch my eyes or mouth with my elbow. This made me giggle, Vogt.

georgia_bride09 · September 2009

I'm already salt's flu buddy. I called it!!

gkb0910 · September 2009

Pass out bottles of sanitizer and teach kids in high school good hand hygiene. That's the better use of time and is much more respectful than bumping elbows with an authority figure. Exactly. (I find myself agreeing with you on a daily basis, Vogt.)

vallyhoo · September 2009

::chest pumps Georgia away from Salt::

janedoe1113a · September 2009

Sh!t, my flu buddy has swine too. What do I do?!?

MeaghanandMichael · September 2009

This whole thread is making me kinda nervous to heard to the casino this weekend with H for his brithday. Do you think the pit bosses will think I am up to something if I am casting bets with my elbows?

tlv204 · September 2009

I like the chest bump idea. That's the first I've heard of someone having it for 2 weeks. My friend that had it was over it in about 3-4 days. Buut he lives in a fraternity house and now 6 other people have it. Oh the joys of college living.

salt78 · September 2009

I guess then it would make sense to have two flu buddies so that when I infect one of you, the other one can step in. If I really had to pick a flu buddy, I think I'd pick someone I didn't like very much. that way in the event that I got them sick, I wouldn't feel so bad about it.

AlexiaANDRobert · September 2009

Navy - I was sick for almost 4 weeks. Weeks one and four are just crappy cold symptoms. Week 2 was the WORST! Salt - I like your idea about picking someone you don't like as your flu buddy. I was mad at my sister while I was sick, so I kept threatening to cough on her!

georgia_bride09 · September 2009

Vally,Fine!!! I hope you get the swine just like Bacon Kitty in my siggy*!!! Hmmph.Georgia*Bacon Kitty made it through fine, he was just peckish and fevery for a couple days last week.

wadingmoose · September 2009

We actually had someone from public health come and talk to our company about H1N1. It's kinda interesting actually, but yeah you could already have immunity to it through past exposure to other H1N1 strains of the flu - this is why a lot of the older people aren't getting sick with it - it's similar to an old version of the flu and they're already immune because they were sick with it before.And hand sanitizers are the devil. Much like over-use of antibiotics, hand sanitizers have the potential to create super bugs because what happens is they kill off the weaker germs, but often stronger bacteria and virii survive the hand sanitizer.Bleach is really your only solution. Good luck.