Wearing gloves at the store - smart suggestion

Well, my (not stupid) DH uses one gloved hand to pump his gas, as his dirty hand. He works in a nursing home and washes his hands and uses hand sanitizer all day, every day. They.are.shot. Sanitizer burns and sometimes even putting on lotion hurts. Pumping gas is one case where washing immediately isn’t an option and he can avoid using the hand sanitizer. Also, it’s a lot easier for him to ensure he takes his glove off properly, than it is to ensure he gets the hand sanitizer everywhere it needs to be. It has been working very well for him.

He has not used gloves the 2 times he has been into the store, but we discussed it. He has a lifelong habit of biting his nails, but when he wears gloves at work it makes that impossible. Also, he says they’re enough of a distraction when he wears them that he’s less likely to touch his face. Is that universal? I’m sure it’s not, and I understand the false security it gives some, especially if they don’t quite understand how it works. But it holds true for him. I also find it’s a lot easier to tell someone “just don’t touch your face,” than it is for someone with that ingrained habit to actually not touch their face, no matter how hard they try. It’s just not that simple.

So if someone finds a safe solution that works for them, they should use it. If anyone has some medical advice to pass on perhaps it can be done without the insults and judgement. People are doing their best and making a sincere effort to keep themselves, and everyone they are in contact with, safe. You may not agree with how they go about it, and it may not even be a good idea, but surely there is a better way to pass that opinion on without being purposefully insulting.