[pct-l] Handshakes

[Michael S]

PCT MOM...I don't think everyone is a wimp.  One person is, and I'm trying to walk him down from the ledge.  I think keeping sanitary conditions is difficult, if not impossible.  

However, I can tell you that there is very good evidence that in the non-PCT world (where keeping clean is difficult), washing your hands frequently limit infections.  And doctors rarely shake hands any more...fist bumps only.


Michael
michaels at skepticalraptor.com
http://www.skepticalraptor.com/skepticalraptorblog.php



On Feb 8, 2012, at 14:13 :35PST, Andrea Dinsmore wrote:

You guys are a bunch of wimps. Think how many dirty, smelly bacteria covered hikers every trail angel hugs each year. We don't seem to get sick very often. How many people in the city do you touch or breath on ?? How many germy people can you squish into an elevator. How many door knobs do you touch every day that hundreds of others have touch before you ?? I bet you will have less "germs" on your body by the time you get off the trail than when you got on. If you can't handle the though of shaking someones hand out here.......pack a big can of Lysol.
 
PCT MOM..............hugs every hiker.
 


 
On Wed, Feb 8, 2012 at 1:39 PM, Eric Lee <saintgimp at hotmail.com> wrote:
Michael wrote:
>
However, I'm going to have to say that being on the trail for weeks on end,
passing of bacteria or viruses is not going to be much of an issue, because
you'll touch your clothing (especially since you're just bringing one set to
go light), your own skin, rocks, dirt, water, etc.  Seriously, I wouldn't
worry about it.
>

The issue isn't *all* germs, but rather picking up new germs that aren't
already part of your balanced ecosystem of germs; in particular, new
fecal-borne germs that you don't already have.  Those are the ones that
upset the balance and make you sick.  I don't have references available at
the moment but my understanding is that a lot of illnesses that people blame
on bad water are actually caused by bad fecal matter picked up from other
people via handshakes, dipping into each other's gorp bags, etc.

Eric

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