OT: Wash hands after computer use.

[zentara]

Just a "public service reminder", which may prevent someone from getting sick. Health care is expensive (or non-existent) for many of us.

I like to listen to CBC Radio2, which is classical FM commercial free radio. Anyways, they just had their hourly news, and the last report was on "keyboard cleanliness". They said keyborads and mice, are seldom cleaned properly, and are a haven for all sorts of microscopic things. Their advice: "Wash your hands after using a computer".

I know it is common sense, but how often we forget.

After using a public keyboard, do not subconciously rub your eyes, ears, or nose until you wash your hands.

If this prevents one monk from getting ill, it would be worth it.

[Jaap]

On the other hand, one might argue that we build our resistance from getting in contact with these things in the first place. So perhaps a better advice would be: If you are in your youth, touch as many keyboards as possible so you build a firm resistance for any bug, virus, microbe and whatnot out there.

I'm just being playfull, of course.

[cog]

do not subconciously rub your eyes, ears, or nose until you wash your hands

/me puts his hands covering his ears and says "Oh no! What have I done?"

And then he rubs his eyes: "Maybe this is just a dream."

...

Hum... my nose is itching...

(as Jaap, I'm only kidding; I too feel this is important advice

[nimdokk]

Sometimes its not just the keyboards either. The most disgusting computers I have ever seen were in the ER area of a local hospital (where I used to work as backup to the helldesk). That said of course, some of the helpdesk techs at my current company (health insurance) are constantly complaining (with good reason) about dirty keyboards, at people's desks. Recommendation would also be to keep a pump jar (or something of that nature) of "waterless" hand sanitizer around as well.

Computers can be filthy and disgusting (and thats not even getting into the pr0n :-)

[steelrose]

I worked for a newspaper, and the newsroom computers were absolutely FILTHY. The first thing I would have to do is spend a couple of minutes santizing the keyboards and mice. It was only that department, the rest of the place, as outdated as the computers were, the users still kept them clean. Good advice.

[Juerd]

Or, well, CLEAN YOUR KEYBOARDS. Just a wild guess. :)

Here's a rough guide for weekly/monthly cleaning:

1. Blow out as much as you can with canned air.
2. Clean the surface of the keyboard as you clean any surface, but make sure no liquid drops into the keyboard.
3. Let it dry.
And for 6-monthly/yearly cleaning:
1. Pop off all keys with a screw driver or key remover.
2. Do the canned air trick.
3. Dip all keys in a solution of a strong cleaner (I've used biotex and ammonia), stir.
4. Wash off the keys with lots of water.
5. Let everything dry.
6. Put the keys back on the keyboard in Dvorak order.
And washing your hands *before* you use a keyboard greatly helps keeping it clean. Oh, and don't smoke!!! Smokers have filthy hands and ditto keyboards.

If the uncleanliness of keyboards scares you, don't touch door knobs, as those too are often not cleaned! And think about phones, especially mobile ones. What about your car keys? Think twice next time you fill up the car - who's touched that hose before?

It's time to buy lots of soap!

Update: hey, where's my sig?

[zentara]

Actually, your solution makes me think! Why not have multiple keyboards, and swap them daily and clean them in a "rotational schedule". This would be cheap and easy to implement in places where it counts, like hospitals, nursing homes, schools,etc. Keyboards only cost a few dollars, and how hard is it to swap one?

[Juerd]

Keyboards only cost a few dollars

While keyboards costing around $5 exist, no typist would want to use those for longer than ten minutes. For in hospitals, the problem with the things is that they're not as reliable as you'd want them to be. I've always wondered why people still buy these crappy things. By coincidence, today I even saw someone clean such a cheap thing. I wouldn't even have bothered. In fact, I sometimes get used keyboards from people who think they can be of use to me, and I throw most away because cleaning them thoroughly is too much work. And I still have over 50 keyboards in stock. Does anyone want to buy a dvorak keyboard by any chance? It's okay, they're clean!

[MidLifeXis]

To get a real gross-out, turn a keyboard upside down and shake. Take note of the stuff raining down on the desk :)

[brian_d_foy]

You may be thinking about keyboards, but just about anything anyone touches is a vector, as well as all of the air that you breathe. Singling out any particular object sounds like filling dead air.

Better advice: don't let people come to work sick. :)

[zentara]

I think I found a solution...everyone start typing with their toes. :-)

[cog]

And remember, do not rub your eyes, ears, or nose with them!

[mrpeabody]

How is this any worse than doorknobs and phones? This does not sound like a serious health threat; I'll stick to washing my hands before I eat.

[zentara]

It isn't any "worse", but that dosn't make it safe. For what it's worth, even "supermarket baskets" are getting a bad rap. On my local TV station's news, they are doing "flourescent dye" tests on the handles, and it's ugly. A whole new business has sprouted up, "portable disinfectant wipes", which mother's with babies can use before they put their baby in.

Personnally, I never let a public phone touch my hear, I hold it a few inches away, or wear a hood. And heres one that may make you laugh, I flush at the male urinals with my elbow. :-) I also never touch door handles if possible, I use my foot to push it from the bottom.

Just for the record, I'm not exactly a germaphobe. I'm an organic garderner, and my hands are in dirt and compost all the time....but there are "good bacteria" and there are "bad bacteria". The "bad bacteria" tends to be transmitted by host contact.

[Anonymous Monk]

*psst* You just admitted that you don't wash up after using the urinal...

[Jenda]

Tetanus anyone? Anthrax? Why do you think the bacteria in the dirt are any better than those on keyboards, phones, doorknobs, baskets, etc? Yeah, some germs do not last long outside the host, some can survive for years. In the dirt.

[Jenda]

Oh I see, you are not a human and you don't wanna end up like the poor creatures from Mars in Wells' The War of the Worlds. Good for you.

I'd rather hope my immunity is tuned up right instead of making sure I do not touch anything with my anything. And fear that the first virus or bacteria that gets into the system through the layers of protection destroys the untrained organism.

P.S.: If our former healthcare minister heard this she'd prepare a decree that all public keyboards must be wrapped in a plastic wrapper replaced after each use and may only be used with government recommended gloves. Actually, why just the public ones?

[zentara]

why just the public ones?

I mean "public" in the sense of "not private". How about "multi-person-use keyboard?

P.S. You really hate my tagline don't you? Stimulates a repressed subconcious fear?

[Jenda]

:-) Nope, it's not about the tagline. I just don't like these over-aseptic blurbs. I guess mostly thanks to that stupid minister. And I did understand what did you mean by public.