Tuesday 10 March 2020

Lemmings?

I don't tend to read much Twitter, Facebook or suchlike but I was amazed by Twitter reporting the panic buying currently going on in the UK.

I would guess around 50% are disgusted by it and the rest amazed and laughing it off. Comments like "I went shopping and couldn't stop myself panic buying, I came home with slippers, sandpaper and 40 litres of paint"

Other comments were showing disgust at those stripping bare the shelves of toilet paper, hand sanitizer, soap, pasta, baby formula and tinned goods.

I can't understand the lemming attitude towards toilet paper. Neither Flu nor Coronavirus give you loose motions so why would you need so much? Newspaper makes a reasonable substitute if things get really bad. You can't eat toilet paper either, so its not going to feed you.

Hand sanitizer I can partially understand (but in moderation, leave some for others). However,  most bottles don't tell you how much ethyl alcohol they contain and it apparently needs to be 60%. If it is less than that, it might not be offering the protection you think.

Face masks are also regarded next to useless for this particular virus, but those who really need them, such as care workers, doctors, nurses and dentists etc, for their day to day jobs, can't get hold of them.

The problem with panic buying is that it induces more panic buying the more it is discussed. I am probably not helping but really people, get a grip.

If you can't get hold of sanitizing gel, put a very soapy damp flannel or suchlike into a plastic bag and carry it around. Washing your hands is best but quite a few won't be doing it properly.

How many of you, for example when visiting the toilet, wash your hands, dry and leave?

Clean hands being used to turn off a dirty tap, then you touch a dirty handle to leave the toilet area!!! I always wash my hands, and whilst still soapy, wash the top of the tap. This helps ensure that when I have rinsed my hands, I can turn the tap off without reinfecting my hands. I use my elbow to switch on the dryer, if required, then a tissue or sleeve to leave the area.

I still hear people leaving the toilet cubicle and the area without washing their hands, God knows what they are putting on the handles!

Yes, be cautious, be careful, protect yourself sensibly but also think of others. Those without much money who can't stock up (give to the food bank), those who need items for their day to day jobs, leave some behind, just be sensible, we are not and should not become a nation of lemmings.




11 comments:

  1. A very sensible post, I wondered after posting my blog post yesterday if I should have done, just reading about panic buying can make you feel as though you should be joining in, it's like the build up to Christmas shopping.

    Yes I do the soap the tap thing too, although I probably just dirty my hands leaving as I touch the door handle. In Booths the other day there was no queue to use the ladies toilets but there WAS a queue to wash your hands afterwards, so I think the message is getting through.

    I always grimace when I hear someone leaving the loos straight after coming out of their cubicle, especially when I'm in a supermarket … what will they be touching next!!

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  2. I've always been a bit funny about touching things outdoors in public places - like door handles, stair rails, etc. You never know who's had their mucky hands on them first and indeed how mucky their hands were to start with! I've not bothered with any hand sanitizer - I can't find any anyway and I've usually got access to soap & water. The panic buying has started in my area a little bit - my daughter has always bought 6 small bottles of sparkling water for her other half every week to take to work. Yesterday she was questioned about it and the cashier had to put it through as something else! Very strange!! It seems the illogical can't think logically! I'm off shortly to find some hay - there wasn't much of it around last week!

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    1. Hopefully hay was just weather related?

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  3. I think the TP thing is because quite a lot of our loo rolls are made in China?
    I haven't needed to go supermarket shopping for a couple of weeks, just popped to the local Co-op so haven't seen the empty shelves. Plenty of everything at the Co-op.

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    Replies
    1. Might well be right about TP production even so, some are still going to ridiculous lengths.

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  4. The same thing is happening here in Canada...My friends husband has bought into the panic and has been buying toilet paper non stop.

    God bless.

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  5. Cheap pharmacy items are flying off the shelf’s. The more expensive brands being left behind.

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  6. True and well said. I was at Aldi and they were out of anything antibacterial and though they had paper towels and toilet paper, both were reducing quickly...My driver was sneezing, supposedly from pollen allergy. I am following the recommended guidelines and staying out of crowds as much as possible.

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    Replies
    1. I think its the sensible thing to do.

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