Wash your hands!!!

In the news this week from over the pond I was shocked to hear the story this week that Fox News host Pete Hegseth hasn’t washed his hands for 10 years and seems to think its a bit of a joke!  Its people like him that that take germs onboard with them and it can spread like wildfire.  He doesn’t believe in germs because he can’t see them by the way!

Most cruise travellers sail happily and healthily, but from Norovirus to Zika virus, seasickness to dehydration and hangovers to jet lag, cruise ship passengers can easily succumb to a number of ailments. The cruise industry has become militant about hygiene on its ships, and the war against norovirus. Cruise lines query passengers about their health before they board to squirting sanitizer onto diners’ palms before meals. The virus is easily transmitted, meaning thousands of people in close proximity on an ocean voyage can quickly become ill, but is this our faults? Are we honest?

Probably the most simple thing but honestly do you wash your hands?

Simple but for some too time consuming!

The number-one way to avoid getting Norovirus or other illnesses on a cruise is to thoroughly wash your hands – more than you ordinarily would – before and after you eat, after you use the bathroom, when returning to the cruise ship after a day in port and every time you touch a stranger or an often touched item like stairway railing or a slot machine. In this way, you’ll kill any germs before they can infect you. In addition to ramping up hand-washing, also take advantage of the hand sanitizers strategically placed around cruise ships in the dining areas, by the gangway and even in various lounges and public spaces. But note that using a hand sanitizer is not a replacement for basic hand-washing. Time and time again on so many cruises I have been on , I have observed passengers that obviously didn’t feel that they carried any germs as they did not bother to sanitize their hands when going into the buffet. I have seen members of staff at both entrances but they cant force everyone to sanitize their hands properly. I’ve got praise Princess for this as on my last 2 cruises with them they have been quite forceful making sure EVERYONE uses the sticky sanitizer when entering any of the dining venues. Unfortunately who knows what goes on in the toilets……thats down to trust I think.

Typical Sanitizer outside restaurant

It drives me crackers, it takes 2 seconds to do. I’m also fed up of seeing people pick up cakes, fruit or bread rolls and then put them back. Cough into their hands pick up a sandwich…I’m ranting now but honestly come on people, are we bringing on these sickness outbreaks ourselves. My children know to use to the sanitizers and wash their hands properly. I think we all to quickly blame the cruise lines but maybe need to look a little closer to home.

I found some weird and wonderful facts about bacteria which may be an eye opener and help you understand why / how norovirus developes onboard :

When you wear headphones for just one hour it increases the bacteria in your ear 700 times

Bacteria have been on earth for 3 billion years

Without bacteria the earth would have no soil in which to grow plants

More than 600 strains of bacteria have been identified in dental plaques

Typically there are between 10,000 and 10 million bacteria on each hand.

Damp hands spread 1,000 times more germs than dry hands.

The number of germs on your fingertips doubles after you use the toilet.

When you cough, germs can travel about 3 metres if you do not put your hand or a handkerchief over your nose and mouth.

Studies show only about 70% of people wash their hands after using a public toilet.

Almost one million bacteria can be created by one person in a school day.

Bacteria double their number every 20 minutes.

Interesting but worrying isnt it?

What do you think? Have you seen any evidence of sloppy hygiene on a cruise? Do you have any other suggestions to help cruise lines fight this never-ending battle with stomach bugs and sickness outbreaks? My email is [email protected] or you can call me on 0330 303 8207.

Haydn