Washing Hands Stop Viruses:
The Importance of Washing Your Hands
Frequent Hand Washing Stops Viruses
by Josh Day
Growing up, how many times did you hear, "Wash your hands before you eat?"
This old adage really rings true on a cruise ship where the benefits of hand washing are clearly revealed.
My wife and I went on our honeymoon in 2005 on a Carnival cruise ship. We were onboard for five days and cruised the Caribbean, visiting two ports in Mexico. And on the last day at sea I was sunk by a pretty virulent cold, along with a large portion of other seafarers.
It's pretty clear when a cough is a result of a cold or flu strain. And it gets downright creepy when you start hearing the same kind of cough from numerous people.
The day we disembarked my bio-souvenir was in full effect. I felt terrible, was running a fever, had a vicious sore throat, and all I wanted to do was go home. My wife later contracted the cold two days later.
Of course I had forgotten our natural health Tonic which strengthens the immune system and helps keep infections at bay. However, despite all the past times where the Tonic kept me healthy during flu outbreaks in college, I doubt even it could have withstood the force of germs under a cruise ship scenario.
You see, a cruise ship is like a perfect storm for a cold or flu outbreak.
A cruise ship is the ideal venue for a virus to spread and enjoy a maximum rate of infection. People are in close quarters, they brush each other in narrow corridors, railings are everywhere to provide a wealth of surface area for bacteria and viruses, generally a majority of passengers have weakened immune systems as older individuals and couples are more fond of cruising, and on many cruises strangers sit with one another at meal times, adding more potential situations for contact and airborne transmissions.
Say you're a mad scientist who's just concocted a zombie plague. A cruise liner would be the perfect agent for your initial tests of the pathogen's potency.
We got over the cold, but it was certainly no fun, especially when we had to drive eight hours to return home.
But I'm happy to say we returned from another cruise, this time cruising with the Norwegian "freestyle" cruise line, both my wife and I were in top shape.
We remembered Tonic this time and included vials of the antivirus, so to speak, in little motel plastic bottles. I dosed daily as a preventative measure, and that, along with something much more important which I'm about to reveal, kept the germs at bay.
The secret is so simple I'm marveled that all cruise liners don't do this, if for nothing more than the sake of keeping their employees healthy.
Norwegian had hand sanitizing stations all over the ship.
They were in elevators, between staircases, at the maitre 'd stand of every restaurant and bar. Here's the best part: they were all sensor activated, so you never had to touch a surface.
Cruise staff also appeared occasionally to squirt sanitizer into people's hands -- I only saw this at the large buffet where there was always high traffic, and this was also done when people left and arrived back on the ship.
Let me quickly explain how the sanitizer works. You get a measured dob on your hands and you briskly rub together until your hands dry.
With an outbreak easily spreading over a ship, it makes sense to escalate defense mechanisms when it comes to pathogens.
Another nice thing about the Norwegian cruise was our ability to sit with each other, not at an assigned tabled with four other couples. This also keeps rates of infection down.
You too can take proactive steps in stopping colds and the flu.
- Wash your hands. Forget the antibacterial stuff that makes wild claims -- simple bar soap and hot water will do. Wash frequently, but remember not to go too far -- you don't want to be the next Howard Hughes!
- Never touch your face when you're in public. Your hands are constantly touching surfaces like gas pumps, shopping cart handles, doorknobs, other people's hands.
- Once again, wash your hands. Always wash well after returning home from an outing.
- Check out our 37 Natural Flu and Cold Remedies for Natural Tonic. Full of garlic, vinegar, and several other natural germ killers, but it won't win any taste contests.
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