The Middle Distance

I don't use hand sanitizer myself (I even avoid antibacterial soap), but I have a germ phobic colleague who keeps it on her desk and uses it all the time. I work in a hospital and it's required for direct patient care situations, but since I'm administrative that doesn't apply to me. I'm not sure if the colleague gets sick less often than I do, but I doubt it.

Interestingly (maybe), I used to be very lackadaisical about washing my hands and for some reason I decided to get very strict about it, either with regular soap or just water if soap wasn't available. When I did I noticed a *huge* decrease in the number of minor colds I got, so I'm now a total believer in handwashing--just not with antibacterials. (I'm also a huge believer in my own immune system, which kicks ass and has always served me very well.)

One thing I do use the hell out of is antibacterial ointment--I'll dab it on any bit of skin that gets infected (i.e. red, puffy and painful) which seems to really help as far as getting things back on track and whatever's cut, scratched or bitten healed up again.