Soap and a Dope

By Kim Stagliano

My children received papers in their school bags about the importance of hand washing for preventing the spread of the Staph bacteria that is wreaking havoc across the nation. The school district has been proactive, which is great.

The hand washing memo reminded me of an incident at a recent pediatric visit. I had scheduled two children in one time slot. The doc examined both kids fully. Including the "panty peek" some older girls get. I'm not used to that one yet.

1) She did not wear gloves and 2) She did not wash her hands between checks. It didn't occur to me until after we'd left the building. I'm thinking of changing practices from the local "puppy mill pediatric group" to a sole practitioner. If I can find one.

Wash your hands. Wash your kids' hands. And make sure your doctors wash their hands too. Soap and water. Your first line of defense for a healthy winter.

Comments

[Sue]

I work in health care- have for almost 30 yrs-it is shocking and very sad, the high percentage of Drs who do not believe that they can carry germs and do not wash their hands or wear the proper equipment to protect themselves or their patients

[Kathryn Johansen]

This is so especially important to those kids, like mine, who do a lot of oral stimming...nothing freaks me out more than seeing the mouth come in contact with a Walmart shopping cart. I carry wipes and soap and we wash a LOT. I can only hope the school will be as conscientious. I will stay out of Wally World as much as possible this winter, too.

[Michelle O'Neil]

I once worked in a hospital as a technician (while I was in school) and knew one doc who refused to wear a mask in the OR because apparantly she had no germs. No one there had the testicular fortitude to question her.

"Panty peek?" That reminds me of Joey's tailor on Friends, "That's how they do pants!"

Is it really necessary?