In the time of COVID-19, we are especially interested in playing it safe using social distancing and hygiene to give us the best chance to avoid becoming infected. This post was originally written in May of 2019.
If you pump your own gas, you know what I’m talking about. Gas pumps are pretty icky. So much so that the topic has been raised on a number of websites, which include AARP and Forbes.com.
The articles pointed to a study done by the Kimberly-Clark Professional, which was published in 2011. Once you read that study, you’ll definitely understand why I decided to do start keeping a box of disposable gloves in my car.
“People do not realize the amount of contamination they are exposed to going to work each day and doing everyday things like filling their gas tank or riding on an escalator,” said Dr. Charles Gerba, Professor of Microbiology at the University of Arizona.”
Retrieved from NEWS PROVIDED BY Kimberly-Clark Professional Oct 25, 2011, 09:36 ET https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/testing-reveals-high-contamination-levels-of-everyday-objects-in-major-us-cities-gas-pump-and-mailbox-handles-are-among-the-dirtiest-132523688.html.
I buy gloves wherever I can find the best price. I’ve recently found a box of 100 gloves for $6.99 at Harbor Freight. They’re sometimes on sale for $5.99. If you don’t have a local store, you can get them online at Harbor Freight. I use these gloves when I pump gas or use an ATM. I don’t go as far as wearing them while I’m shopping, but would possibly do that if there were a widespread flu outbreak or something like that. I also use these gloves when I scoop cat litter and when I clean the bathroom.
You may not be as paranoid as I am. I happen to have an immune system deficiency caused by a type of cancer I have. Still, you can avoid coming in contact with a lot of germs by carrying these gloves in the car. Whether you choose to do that or not, always wash your hands with warm water and soap as soon as you can after pumping gas, using an ATM, shopping, or riding the elevator. For help choosing a glove, you can refer to this post: https://healthblogs.org/are-you-wearing-the-correct-safety-gloves/
After pumping your gas, take the gloves off so they’re inside out and then throw them away at the gas station. Please don’t try to reuse them.
This is by no means a guarantee that you’ll be safe, but it’s one step you can take to mitigate threats.