Hospital bans magazines to block spread of diseases

[The Straight Story]

Hospital bans magazines to block spread of diseases

Women’s College Hospital has tossed its collection of waiting room magazines in what its chief of medical staff calls a “sensible step” to combat the spread of infections.

“A magazine is like a crumpled piece of tissue lying beside your chair,” Dr. Jim Ruderman said. “It’s around coughing, sneezing, we touch our face and handle the magazine, and then multiply it by four or five people.”

Patients can still bring their own reading materials but are asked to take them home or recycle them.

Ruderman said the hospital does not have magazine police shaking down patients and visitors.

However, he added that “many of my patients say it’s about time” magazines were taken out of areas where people suffering many different illnesses gather daily.

http://www.thestar.com/news/article/887993--hospital-bans-magazines-to-block-spread-of-diseases

[Swede]

1. Holy crap! I never thought of that.

Talk about a light bulb moment.

[BlueIris]

2. Smart move. nt

[TwilightGardener]

3. How about office clipboards, pens, doorknobs, armrests...how about

everyone just wear masks and gloves all the time? Jeezus. Just wash your damn hands often to protect yourself, problem solved. Nothing is sterile.

[Cirque du So-What]

6. nevermind

[WinkyDink]

8. I try always to use my own pen.

[TwilightGardener]

9. So do I--if I have one. If not, I don't pull out a bottle of sanitizer

and studiously wipe down the reception desk's pen--or the desktop, for that matter. I just try not to touch my mouth, nose, eyes, etc. and then I wash or sanitize when I get the chance. We are going to touch germy objects in public--that is just a fact. Personal hygiene is what prevents infection.

[WinkyDink]

15. True enough. But I still use hand sanitizer when I get into my car!

MRSA scares the bejeebus outta me.

[backscatter712]

14. Computer keyboards are a HUGE petri dish for germs.

They're everywhere in hospitals, and if you take a swab from any computer keyboard, you'd find that they're crawling with germs.

Every time you use a computer, you should use hand sanitizer afterwards.

[SidDithers]

4. K&R...nt

Sid

[Roma]

5. And a $20 bill is a piece of crumpled tissue folded in

your wallet or purse.

PM me for instructions on how to send me that disgusting, filthy stuff. I'll be sure to dispose of it properly for you.

[midnight]

11. Your wide awake and funny as heck....

[NV Whino]

7. Good gawd!

The hospital where I volunteer has hand sanitizing stations scattered (liberally) throughout the hospital. Use them.

[kestrel91316]

10. Tep, fomites. Rather excellent ones, and nobody even paid attention

to them for such a long time. Clever little bastards.

[RamboLiberal]

12. I always take my own reading material

Newspapers, book or my Nook to the doctors office or anywhere there is a waiting area with magazines.

Not just because of germs but also because they usually don't have magazines I want to read or they are incredibly outdated.

[NNN0LHI]

13. Thats why I hate going to the doctor

The place is full of sick people.

Don

[jancantor]

16. If i see a magazine with a sticky discharge in the pages

I would definitely avoid it.

[TexasObserver]

17. That's why I always take my own reading material to the doctor's.

A newspaper also helps stop germs others are coughing or sneezing, if held up to eye level.

A doctor's waiting room is one of the easiest places to pick up a bug.