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Phil Coale / AP file
Shopping cart handles are even grosser than you think.
We've all been warned about the germiest areas of the shopping mall -- the bathroom sinks, escalator handrails and dirty food court tables.
But what about those hacking, sniffling people standing next to us in the checkout line?
"I've had people cough all over me or cough into their hand and then hand me money," says Lisa Phillips, 49, of Eugene, Ore., who's worked in retail for six years. "It's like they want to share. ... I feel like saying, 'Have you heard of online shopping?'"
Dr. Paul Kassab, who practices internal medicine at Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle, says going out shopping with a bad cold or flu can definitely put others at risk.
"I wouldn't call them walking germ factories but you could do some serious germ spreading without knowing it," he says. "If someone has a cough or is sneezing or blowing their nose, then basically the germ -- whatever it is -- will be on their hands. If you're handing people your credit card, looking at stuff on the shelves and putting it back, using a shopping cart -- anything you handle will have germs on it."
Shopping carts, in particular, have been shown to harbor all kinds of germs -- and not just cold and flu bugs. A study in March found that 50 percent of them carried E. coli and 72 percent carried markers for fecal bacteria.
Colds and the flu are what most people pick up this time of year, though. And Phillips, who's sold everything from toys to books to women's lingerie, says she's experienced plenty of germ warfare during the holiday retail season.
"People will have little kids with them and they'll have a nice croupy cough and green stuff coming out of every orifice and then they'll let their kids gnaw on all kinds of toys and clothes," she says. "And then they'll hand it to you and say, 'I don't want this' after their kid has totally germed it out. It's disgusting. You have to put on gloves and throw it away."
Kassab says sickos who still feel the need to shop should make sure they wash their hands with soap and water or use hand sanitizer as much as possible.
"Obviously, if you're coughing, cough into your sleeve," he says. "But it's really more the touch. If you're out shopping and you have a cold, using Purell would tremendously reduce the chance of giving it to others."
Is it possible to pass along a cold or flu bug to someone in a gaily-wrapped holiday package?
"That's a tough one to answer," says Kassab. "Probably not if the gift has been wrapped for more than a day or two. Most bugs need a host or they'll die."
Last minute sickly shoppers may want to take advantage of a store's gift wrapping service, though.
Leave a Comment:
This year Im sharing my gift with the whole country......... The Flu, Merry Christmas
I got my flu shot.
I'll just take class, sick or not..
Sure, You are just the kind of person everyone wants to sit next to in class. NOT! STAY HOME an have someone take notes for you because the cold/flu germs you are spreading could end up making the person who comes in contact with you person deathly ill.
That is EXACTLY why I don't physically shop at stores this time of year!!
The picture on the top of this is article is why I don't. Gah! Why do people herd like that? I can't stand crowds. Online shopping is the only way to go for me. If you shop early November online, you catch great deals and beat the holiday postal slow-down.
Cyber sales rock! But lets get real people cant always avoid the stores.. not everyone can buy food online. We can always do like china & wear mask!
Why don't people stay at home and shop online?
I don't get why some folks feel the need to inflict their (or their child/rens) nasty, germy phlegm on others. If you're sick, STAY THE HECK HOME! Sadly, I've had to carry hand sanitizer to church, because inevitably there are several hackers, coughers and worse every Sunday. And I apply it liberally at least 3 times during each service.
Grow up and stick you hand sanitizer where the sun don't shine you immature brat. WAAAAA, I might get sick. WAAAA you germy person you. For Christ's sake, quit being such a cry baby.
No doubt Mark! If you have an immunity illness, obviously you'll want to avoid such scenes, otherwise, y'all sound like whiners.
Wow, angry much, Mark?!?! Get thee to anger management, ASAP! LOL...and happy holidays! :)
Mark Lavalier, chill. You're suspended for a day for violating #1 of the Code of Honor. Read the first rule:
I definitely prefer shopping online, but grocery shopping is tougher to do online :). I'm guessing most people just procrastinate so much that they head out to the stores the last few days. I try to keep antibacterial solution with me at all times and have the bacterminator.com antibacterial covers on my iPhone and iPad to keep them germ free too.
I have severe C.O.P.D. and I cough all the time, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, but I am not at all contagious. Sure wish the world would show a little compassion for people out there, especially this time of year. And some people don't have choices of when they shop. If you want to feel safer, wear a mask, bring anti bacterial wipes with you, carry a can of lysol and spray it in your "space". Heck, you could even do more shopping on-line if you are so much of a germ-o-fobe that you have to complain about it here.....
Sorry you have severe C.O.P.D., and I am sure you are well mannered and you cover your mouth. It is the rude self absorbed mannerless people who are the problem. They cough and sneeze routinely without covering their mouths and that is why so many germs are spread, and why so many people get sick. These ignorant people do not teach their children manners either, and so the stupidity continues...and so on and so on.... It isn't about compassion...it is about common sense, manners, and courtesy.
Thank you. finally! I was considering writing a reply myself. Copd is one of the leading causes of death in America and sadly most American's don't have a clue about it. We are not contagious, we are just dying, slow and usually painfully.
I do not attend theaters etc, because it would interrupt others, however, it does get old to be shunned simply because.. Oh Look he must be sick let's avoid him, so yes it is highly about compassion and manners. Next time you see someone coughing.. it may not be an illness that you will get. Lastly for you germaphobes, ever heard of autoimmune? Germs help your immune system work.
Good point with the immune systems. Maybe they should stay home and work on theirs.
My mother had C.O.P.D. so I know what you go through.
If you have COPD that bad YOU should be the one wearing the mask, not the 500 other shoppers in the store. If you are that bad, why aren't on oxygen?
P. S. I also have COPD and you never know what other germs are in the sputum you are coughing up with your hacking. Cover your mouth when coughing. Have some consideration for the others and carry tissues to cough into and then use a hand sanitizer.
I have allergies that cause me to sneeze frequently. I always cover my mouth, and I use hand sanitizer regularly, but I still get dirty looks from people like I shouldn't be out in public. Not every sneeze or cough is caused by colds or flu - it can be COPD, allergies, asthma, reflux, any number of issues. Of course everyone should cover their mouths, use tissues, wash their hands and use sanitizer, but we're not all out their deliberately spreading germs - for some of us this is a daily issue. We can't stay home until the coughing or sneezing go away.
Ditto here m-612.....plus add newly found out MRSA to the mix.
I did most of my gift shopping on Amazon. No whiny kids, no lards with cans of pepper spray, no ignoramuses on the road...Ho Ho Ho my a$$. People these days take ignorance to the Nth degree. Whats even worse than the snifflers is the complete aholes on their cell phones. I really give a crap about your conversation. Best place for that phone? Crammed up your fat a$$.
Merry Christmas
People have been shopping on this earth for thousands and thousands of years as well as going to work, going to school and other public places. Yes, we are all aware there might be risks, however I personally would rather take some risks then isolate myself for fear of catching something, there are many flu and other shots to help protect us, as well as good hygiene and washing ones hands.
People die in their own home sometimes just on slipping on spilt water, or choking on food. I believe I will just enjoy life, my wife and the grand kids. If I catch something, I catch something. at least I will go with happy memories.
Besides I have met some of the neatest people when I have gone shopping and other places. Why would I want to miss great opportunities of meeting my neighbors and the rest of the community.
right on......i'm sick of the germophobes who see sickness everywhere......and the point is, there are germs everywhere. it's a fact of life, get used to it. ppl like that will have future generations locked in bubbles for fear of getting a germ.......the sad part is, the immune system functions by building up antibodies. which it will not do if it does not get normal exposure to bacteria. therefore, by isolating one's self from germs they actually weaken the immune system. then they get sick and blame it on germ exposure. a viscious cycle......
I have a knack for getting in the wrong line at stores.. and I can't tell you how many times I've had a sick cashier hacking and coughing or sniffling and sneezing, handing me my change or receipt...... or it never fails, I walk past someone in the store and right at that minute they sneeze or cough, and they don't even try to cover their mouths or sneeze into their sleeves... they just let it fly.. You can only be so careful, but it would be nice if people were more considerate. But what you expect, when most people seem to believe their sh*t don't stink...
i think if you are too sick don't go out-stay home and take care of yourself
Agreed, however when someone gets sick, if they have no one around, they have to go to the pharmacy to get their medicine the doctor just subscribed and then realize they have a bare pantry while they are waiting an hour or two for the pharmacist, so we see them in the stores.
Others are single parents with young children and sick or not the responsibility and demands are there.
And if you can manage it (I know it's not always possible), please don't bring your sick child out! Especially the little ones that don't know any better than to just hack, sneeze, snort, and then wipe their hands on whatever surface is convenient.
I was in the store a couple of weeks ago and a woman came in with a very obviously sick kid -- wet, croupy-sounding, hacking cough and bright red rash all over her face. I'm sure I looked horrified and tried to stay as far away as possible. Poor kid looked miserable and the woman was doing her best to get what she needed and back out quickly. While I can feel sorry for them both, I sure don't want to share whatever that child had.
I don't go to department stores at all, mainly because there are none in our area. I only shop at Meijer's and Wal-Mart. They have those wipes as you enter the store, and I wipe my cart down real good. If their not available I keep my gloves on. The only bad part is not knowing if someone that is infected is something on the shelf they have touched. People can be so inconsiderate in spreading their germs around this time of the year. If they are sick they should stay home until their feeling better to shop.
Thanks for the laugh from your first sentence. I as well live in a small community.
MSN is running out of things to type about and for now their isn't much racial tension going on to suit their needs.
They have the pakistani story, plenty of racial tension on the comment boards there.
Try being under 5 foot tall, standing in the checkout line, and having people sneezing in your hair! E-e-e-w!!
That why the doctors tell you to stay home when you are sick. Doctors know best.
:-) LOL
Possibly Doctors should give the patient the medicine they need there instead of sending them to a crowded store to get to the pharmacist.
That one I could never figure out. They have you where a mask in the office so you do not get them, or other patients sick, then send the patient with an infectious disease to a crowded store where they have to wait an hour or two for the medicine. Most people if they are hacking cannot keep the mask on for two hours. Doctors would do the world a favor if they were able to keep the patient there and have it delivered to their office.
Why is this a story? People are sick every year, no difference here.
Ha! Ha! Modern paranoia! Hyper cleanness causes allergies! Children not going through childhood illnesses like chicken pox and other stuff has been linked to the burgeoning allergic and asthmatic disorders! Childhood disease strengthens the immune system! Nothing new under the sun! People have been sharing and exchanging bacteria and viruses since God created us or we spontaneously evolved or whatever! Ditto for "lesser" animals! Sometimes humans think too much! A few months ago, there was "hot" news about the old plague epidemics; they found the bacteria. I research more and learned that the plague epidemics strengthened our immune systems! Hospitals used to be dread places where you went to die! Now they can maintain and improve the quality of life in many situations, but they are also hyper "clean" but still hotbeds of superinfectious germs! Hand sanitizer? It's mostly alcohol! Alcohol rapidly evaporates on the skin, and it's germ-repelling power is not all that strong! If you have something like AIDS, you should already know to be careful!
I hate walking into someone else's gas cloud...
People here need to focus on illness such as a cold or flu, they are not talking about serious thngs such as COPD. I work in the medical field. People on here are blowing this out of proportion and context.. When you have a bad cold or or sore throat you should try and stay home. All it takes is common sense and courtesy.. And it is important to get your flu shot. If you are sick wash your hands frequently and carry hand sanitizer.. And if you are out and about please be courteous and considerate and cover your mouth. I also use the hand sanitzer wipes at the store to wipe the buggy handle since statistics have shown that alot of germs are on the carts from people that have not been washing their hands.. I saw a man in the walmart picking his nose and pushing his cart.. That made me want to not only wipe the cart but wash my hands as soon as I got home.. You just don't know what people do and then have no regard about the germs they are spreading!!! Cleanliness helps stop germs!!!
Sure people can be rude but I have a high tolerane level for illness. I can get someone sick by not even knowing I am and being well mannered in the process. How does that happen?