
(First published about two years ago, this post is as relevant today as it was back then. With a difference. Though it’s not a pandemic like Coronavirus, Ebola is far, far, more dangerous – with far, far, more deadly results. The rules are the same though. Don’t take chances. Like Coronavirus, with a killer like Ebola, it’s basic hygiene such as washing your hands that will probably save you life)
Here’s a harsh reality check for you.
Unlike Coronavirus, if you die of Ebola, it’ll be your own doing.
No it’s not a pandemic – at least not yet. But you know it’s a deadly disease, so if you put yourself in the line of fire, the consequences are entirely yours.
Deliberate suicide
So what do they call that, self-inflicted death?
Suicide, right? You’ve committed suicide.
And it wasn’t Ebola that did it, it was you. By your own volition.
Ebola just does, what Ebola does. And exposing yourself to it goes one way. You knew that, before you started, but you did it anyway.
Makes you think about those volunteers who are out there fighting the disease, right? Médecins Sans Frontières , our own NHS people, British armed forces – and the selfless folk from a whole stack of other countries, doing their humanitarian best.
Heroes every one of them. Because they risk suicide to do what they do.
They know they could die. But they do what they do for the sake of others.
How careless can we be?
Not like the rest of us. Here in the UK, we reckon Ebola is far away and can’t get to us. But Coronavirus did. Climbed on a Boeing with a bunch of us coming back from holiday – and bing, we’re lucky we haven’t all got it.
And still, every day we take stupid chances. We know they’re stupid, yet we take them anyway. And the odds are reversed with Ebola. With Coronavirus, there’s a good 80% chance we’ll survive. With Ebola, there’s a hard 80% chance we’ll be dead.
Makes you think, doesn’t it?
We’re not actually thinking suicide at the time, we’re just being lazy.
But those are the stakes, we’re playing with our lives. And we do it through sloppy hygiene.
Want an example? Look no further than a handshake. Not the how of it, the contempt of it.
“New research has revealed that just 38 per cent of men and 60 per cent of women wash their hands after visiting the lavatory.”
Disgusting, yes. But more than that, seriously stupid.
Because every single one of us knows the importance of washing hands after going to the loo. We know what happens if we don’t – that we could make ourselves seriously ill. We know it could put us in hospital.
We even know we could die from it.
Yet we carry on anyway, not thinking for a second that we just risked suicide.
Exactly the same as painting a target on your chest and walking onto a shooting range. Seriously, utterly stupid.
Unnecessary risk
Because you don’t see the Ebola mercy-workers taking chances like that – and they KNOW the chance they’re taking. Or the amazing NHS workers around the country who are doing everything they can to keep us alive.
They’re ready with the meticulous scrub-up, the personal protective equipment donned under the watchful eye of a trained clinical observer: scrubs, overalls, apron, boots, double gloves, medical mask, respirator, goggles, surgical cap.
Then the UV tunnel, the chemical checks, everything. A whole careful code to be followed in scrupulous detail.
And still they can be unlucky. One unguarded moment, one second of diverted attention – and a needle-stick changes their lives.
Yet how many of us stare at the mirror in the loo – check the hair, the face, the way our clothes sit – and walk out without touching a tap?
A deliberate needle-stick moment, right there.
It was you!
Yes, deliberate.
Pleading forgetful is just making excuses. We’re just too lazy and we know it.
So how many of us actually do walk out of the loo – to come down with some medical nasty? Norovirus, diphtheria, MRSA, take your pick.
We don’t go looking for Ebola. Or Coronavirus. But we sure as hell get what we deserve. (Tweet this)
Or worse, pass it on to somebody else by shaking hands, offering coffee and biscuits, handling the office phone, or simply standing too close.
Sloppy hygiene. Ugh.
So why aren’t more of us dead?
Back Off, Bacteria! is the blog of Hyper Hygiene Ltd, supplier of what we’re convinced is the most effective health protection system in the world. A fully mobile, all-automatic Hypersteriliser machine mists up workplaces with ionised hydrogen peroxide, spreading everywhere and eliminating all bacteria, viruses and fungi.
Hypersteriliser units are supplied to businesses and institutions across the UK, notably the haematology and other critical units at Salford Royal Hospital, Greater Manchester; Doncaster & Bassetlaw Hospital; South Warwickshire Hospital; Coventry & Warwickshire Hospital; and Queen Victoria Hospital, East Grinstead.
The Halo Hypersteriliser system achieves 6-log Sterility Assurance Level – 99.9999% of germs destroyed. It is the only EPA-registered dry mist fogging system – EPA No 84526-6. It is also EU Biocide Article 95 Compliant.
Originally posted on 30 August 2018 @ 8:32 pm
Originally posted on 30 August 2018 @ 8:32 pm