What made you sad today?

[OtinG]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

What? I've moved around in public all my life without any hand sanitizers. Public transport, shopping centers, eating out etc. etc. I wash my hands when I come home, and that's it.

But you have never encountered coronavirus COVID-19. That is a big game changer, or at least has the ability to become one...

[OtinG]

Originally Posted by meeera

Yeah, then I'm guessing you're not immunosuppressed, don't live with an immunosuppressed or otherwise at-risk person, and have never lived through a significant communicable disease outbreak in your community. (You don't even wash your hands before you eat? You never go to the toilet outside of your house?)

I was responding to the "Oh well, CDC says it is better to thoroughly wash hands rather than use sanitizers." I agree that handwashing is better; it's just not available in all situations.

The only reason I was trying to find hand sanitizer is for when I’m out in public and can’t wash my hands. I found some by the way—a friend had stockpiled some supplies and gave me some. At home it is better to wash your hands. And not all hand sanitizers are effective. Be sure to get ones with 60% alcohol.

[OtinG]

Originally Posted by PeterT

Unfortunately we made the decision last weekend to have Mabel euthanized. While she was eating well and using her litter box, there was little if any energy, gums were pale, breathing was quite heavy (almost panting but normally without an open mouth).

Monday evening we took her on her last visit to the vet.

I'm still feeling guilty for having failed her, and boy am I missing those pitter patters as she roamed around, or the purring as she kept us company.

My heart goes out to you. I wouldn't think you have failed her. Cats get sick, cats get old, and there isn’t much we can do about it. They can’t talk to us to tell us when they are sick or what hurts. Sometimes it is difficult to understand they are sick until it is too late. It sounds like you did everything you could to help her.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by meeera

...and have never lived through a significant communicable disease outbreak in your community. (You don't even wash your hands before you eat? You never go to the toilet outside of your house?)

Communicable disease outbreaks (mostly respiratory tract infections and influenza) are very common here throughout the year, except for midsummer. But I've rarely gotten them and when I have, then mostly by direct contact with a sick person. Most people get infected this way, by being in the proximity of those already ill. A sanitizer wouldn't help in that case, as these kinds of infections spread through air (true, influenza can survive on surfaces, but the majority of infections are still gotten by close contact). I guess tropical climate is another story, as infections and how they spread are different there (I don't travel). Coronavirus spreads mostly by droplets as well.

I don't know anyone who regularly gets infections from touching a surface in public and I also don't know anyone who uses hand sanitizers in public. But then there are no immunosuppressed persons among my acquaintances, at least to my knowledge. Still, getting an infection through air is always a bigger risk here even for immunosuppressed people, especially if they use public transport.

[Gardenman]

Originally Posted by PeterT

Unfortunately we made the decision last weekend to have Mabel euthanized. While she was eating well and using her litter box, there was little if any energy, gums were pale, breathing was quite heavy (almost panting but normally without an open mouth).

Monday evening we took her on her last visit to the vet.

I'm still feeling guilty for having failed her, and boy am I missing those pitter patters as she roamed around, or the purring as she kept us company.

Do not feel guilty. You made the right choice not to let her suffer.

[5thWiggleWife]

Originally Posted by PeterT

Unfortunately we made the decision last weekend to have Mabel euthanized. While she was eating well and using her litter box, there was little if any energy, gums were pale, breathing was quite heavy (almost panting but normally without an open mouth).

Monday evening we took her on her last visit to the vet.

I'm still feeling guilty for having failed her, and boy am I missing those pitter patters as she roamed around, or the purring as she kept us company.

I understand the feeling. We always feel like we could’ve, should’ve been able to do more when really the only thing we can do is make that very hard decision. You did what was best for her. You cared enough to ensure she did not suffer. You did not fail her. Sending you hugs.

[BetterRed]

@meeera - irrespective of C19, you could carry a trigger spray bottle of IPA, you can buy it in bulk at about $AU10 a litre. I believe it's effective against most bugs, including C19.

BR

[PeterT]

IPA ? India Pale Ale??? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India_pale_ale

[cromag]

Originally Posted by PeterT

IPA ? India Pale Ale??? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India_pale_ale

Yeah, I'd go with 190 proof Everclear, myself!

[binaryhermit]

I suspect IsoPropyl Alcohol?

(using non-standard capitalization intenitonally)

[meeera]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

@meeera - irrespective of C19, you could carry a trigger spray bottle of IPA, you can buy it in bulk at about $AU10 a litre. I believe it's effective against most bugs, including C19.

Yes, like I said, if I run out I'm going to have to make my own - the WHO recipe contains mostly isopropanol. Unfortunately, isopropanol of adequate strength has become extremely difficult to buy here also.

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by meeera

Yes, like I said, if I run out I'm going to have to make my own - the WHO recipe contains mostly isopropanol. Unfortunately, isopropanol of adequate strength has become extremely difficult to buy here also.

You should be able to get 5-10 litre bottles of high grade IPA from Bermuda Industrial or Sydney Solvents. If not try this one, it's almost AR grade ==>> IPA Technical Grade, 99.997%, Isopropyl Alcohol 1 litre Australia at $12.95.

BR

[meeera]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

You should be able to get 5-10 litre bottles of high grade IPA from Bermuda Industrial or Sydney Solvents. If not try this one, it's almost AR grade ==>> IPA Technical Grade, 99.997%, Isopropyl Alcohol 1 litre Australia at $12.95.

Ty, I'll work on getting some if I look like running out. Meanwhile I will leave any remaining stocks for people who need it more.

[OtinG]

Yesterday I got a few items delivered that I had purchased from Amazon. At first I didn’t really think much about that since it is fairly routine at my house. But after thinking about it I have to remember those items were handled by multiple people in multiple locations before they got to my home. Although I did not open the door to talk with the delivery guy, there could still be traces of bad stuff on the packaging and even on the product containers. So probably a good idea to sanitize the items and ourselves when we get them delivered. Probably not a bad idea to do the same from items bought at B&M retailers too.

Not sure what to do with groceries. Boxed/canned/bottled items could be sanitized, but fresh produce is more problematic. I guess fresh produce that will be cooked will get sanitized during cooking, by things that are eaten uncooked might be an issue--not sure about that. Thankfully I don’t buy much fresh produce any more as I rarely cook. But something to think about. At the very least, we need to remember to sanitize our hands after handling packages, groceries, store items, etc.

[Deskisamess]

At the very least, we need to remember to sanitize our hands after handling packages, groceries, store items, etc.

Carts in stores are filthy. I've tried for years to break my husband of sitting items in the baby seat part of the cart. I guess it would take a stinky diaper to be there in plain sight for him to get it.

So is paper money, all those touch screens for payment, the conveyor belts where you sit your stuff, etc. While I don't go crazy, I do wipe off the handle of the cart if there are wipes available. At the very least, I wash my hands as soon as I get home.