I got careless as I slung my computer bag around in the car yesterday. It caught on my fingernail and ripped it.
Ouch!
I’m not talking about a “simple” broken fingernail. I’m talking “ripped-across-the-nail-plate-about-a-quarter-of-an inch-into-the-pink,torn-halfway-across-my-nail, bleeding-like-a-stuck-pig” broken fingernail.
Well, maybe I exaggerate a little about the blood, but there was blood, and there was pain, and the air in my car turned blue from the cuss words. I said a little more than “dagnabbit!” You weren’t there, so I didn’t censor myself.
Now, a month ago this post would have been all about my vanity. Indeed my poor vanity (her name is “Woman”) is wounded. My fingernails were looking beautiful, if I say so myself. I was quite proud to use my hands expressively while I told my stories. Today, I toned it down to avoid attention to the SpongeBob Square Pants Band Aid that I had wrapped around my middle finger. Just in time for the holidays, my manicure is ruined.
That’s no longer my concern. You see, about a month ago I told stories in a local middle school and learned of a new concern. My librarian friend, who normally has had a very “laid back” attitude was acting very obsessive. She had those antibacterial soap dispensers everywhere and was making kids use it when they came in the library. I saw her use it several times in the space of a few minutes. I remarked that I had heard that overuse of those gels wasn’t good. She ignored me and kept on pumping.
I admit that I giggled and asked her what was going on. I teased her by saying “Wipe!” That’s the phrase uttered by Adrian Monk, that obsessive compulsive television detective (on the USA Channel) who is so phobic about germs. After every contact with humans, he has to have an antibacterial wipe cloth to attack the germs. Her eyes grew large, her face grew ashen, and she whispered, “We’ve had staph infections!”
I just said, “Oh,” as if that explained everything to me. However, I was clueless to her concern, and I thought, “Yeah? Well, it’s a middle school. What do you expect? Kids are germy and they get gross staph infections, then they get antibiotics and the boo-boos go away. No big deal, why the drama?” I left that day thinking that she was quite a character.
THAT was before spending a week in a hotel watching the pathetic offerings of daytime television when I come home from work. Daytime television is a vast wasteland. I wanted something less strident than Judge Judy and less vapid than Tyra. I switched to The Discovery Channel. Gloom and Doom. That’s what I got. The show was about global warming, and our melting ice caps. I couldn’t stand to watch any more predictions about what New York City would look like if the glaciers melt. So, I switched to The History Channel to be bombarded by information about the Black Plague and the Influenza Epidemic of 1918. After getting thoroughly depressed by that, I switched to a local news station to find only more bad news. Now, I think I have become phobic about germs, myself.
The fresh-faced, smiling reporter informed me about the occurrences of MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) in schools, nursing homes, hospitals and child care facilities across the nation. It seems that the staph virus has mutated, and a new strain has emerged which is serious (read that “deadly”) if not treated immediately AND doesn’t respond to the normally prescribed antibiotics. The reporter said that while frequent hand washing is good, it won’t stop folks from getting the virus. The virus comes from physical contact with other people. It said that cuts should be bandaged and watched for signs of infection. She smiled as she talked about it being deadly, but the perky reporter didn’t give much information about how to prevent the virus, and concluded that more research is needed.
EEK! Am I the last person on earth to know about this? Will I never learn not to watch daytime television?
On the heels of that, I have a serious cut on my finger—-and every day in schools where this virus lurks, children want to shake my hand and hug me after I perform—-those children are covered in germs—-does that cut look infected?—-
“WIPE!”
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Yep, you are right! We must be concerned with the new strain of MRSA. Antibiotic soaps / wipes are everywhere now. My doctor’s office now has those Purell dispensers EVERYWHERE!! After my bouts with pneumonia twice last year….you can be sure I’ll be using the things!
I’m cautious at the school, especially because I am taking Imuran, but I wish the news wouldn’t pump up these stories. Our local news said something like: The infection that is killing kids nationwide. Yes, 2 kids had died. But MRSA has been around a while; it’s just being hyped now.
I’m going to wash up, be careful and not stress too much.
(And be careful not to misuse antibiotics. That’s part of the problem.)
Keep a bandage on your cut.
My aunt is a teacher, and they just had a confirmed diagnosis of this with one of the students. They immediately had to send out over 400 letters that day.
Ok, Monk is definitely one of my favorite tv shows, I just never get to watch it!!
And it’s true what you say about over using the antibiotic cleansers and the way your body will stop producing the bacteria fighters if it doesn’t think it needs to anymore. The best thing, don’t touch any food, and don’t put your hands anywhere near your face. When you’re done wash your hands thourghouly (like row row your boat) with warm soapy water. And then if you’re ultra worried, take Echinacea for a couple weeks to boost your immune system.
Wow, sorry for so much unsolicited avise, sometimes I just can’t stop myself – and sorry about the nail – that totally SUCKS! 8-\
I’m not a germophobe, But I’ve been yelling at my kids to WIPE! and I even bought them those hand sanitizers, too. There’s been an outbreak of that MRSA relatively near our home and I figure it’s only a matter of time until it’s in every school.
These kinds of things frighten the heck out of me! Hope your nail is better! That HURTS!
Jessica
A big OUCH – boy, I could just feel the pain with the fingernail! Is there anything that just hurts and hurts worse -other than maybe a toothache or earache -and that you really can’t do all that much to stop the pains there cause you have to keep using your hand.
The MRSA thing – been a few outbreaks in our area -some fairly close to our school but so, none there that I am aware of. The overuse/abuse of antibiotics is one thing that can create problems like this where a new strain of an infection type will be resistant to the regular antibiotics is very trut. Using good hygiene to at least wash your hands well with plain soap and water too though will be at least some what of a deterrent.
Ow! I feel the pain…that must hurt! I hate to say it..but I’m one of those people with bottles’ of anti-biotic soaps everywhere and Purell in purse and bookbags! With grandson’s immune system so low I can’t take chances…so I’m constantly reminding them to wash..why do kids have to put their fingers into the weirdest places on their faces?
Okay, here I fly in and talk about the fact that most of us are carrying MRSA already. It’s like any other bug, it may cause an infection or it may not. I believe that my son had it 2 years ago, no big whoop, antibiotics does clear it up. The problem is that it’s not the regular antibiotic that could be used. Staph Aureus infections are common, think pimples, boils and sebacious cysts.
There is an overuse of the antibiotic wipes, soap and water is much better. I can see antibiotic cleansers in doctor waiting rooms and hospitals, but libraries….I just think people are over reacting.
As usual TV News has screamed this into the stratosphere, but there are scads of things more likely to kill you (as the theme song says – It’s dangerous out there).
What makes the MRSA outbreaks a little more unusual is that it used to be confined to hospitals, sanitoriums and such while now it seems to have passed to the general population. As long as you cover all open sores, all should be well and sensible precautions enough.
i guess you’re not the only one here, eeek! WIPE!
Loved your post dear. you are really so hilarious and informative. Love yah girl!
Yikes get those wipes out asap! (-: I have heard this is everywhere so if you are going to get it then you are going to get it. We have had a few cases that I know of at our school. Its nasty but doesn’t mean you are going to die.(-: The main thing is get to the doctor if you see a sign of infection. Be sure to wash your hands with soap and water and keep all open sores covered and clean. This would be especially true anywhere you go. I would think the grocery store would be just as bad as schools are. (-: OMGosh there’s no safe place to go anymore….lol Better stay home and surf the internet!!!(-: