This is not a photo of the National Poultry Physicians convention of 2009. It is the newly suggested way of greeting which Dr. Joe Soler advises rather than handshakes or fistbumps. Obviously it’s meant to replace the European kiss on both cheeks as well, and lacks that certain something! Stylish or not, this is his advice for avoiding Swine or any other flu. When Dr. Soler and his colleagues meet or greet patients they do what appears to be the Chicken Dance, or if you prefer…a do -si-do, only touching with their extended elbows.
Dignified it isn’t, but they feel it’s the one safe way to greet someone since the nasty bugs travel when your exposed hands then touch your hands to your mouth, eyes, or nose. It’s highly unlikely you’ll be doing any of that with your elbows, but it’s likely to decrease the spread of the swine flu and other
contageous diseases by a significant amount, when practiced with other common sense precautions, not to mention the people who will suddenly start to avoid you. Seriously though, the old stand-bys such as frequent hand washing, or using a sanitizing hand cleaner are always a good idea. Of course, everyone is already covering their mouths when they cough of sneeze! Likewise, washing their hands after touching anything else such as keyboards, escalator rails, door knobs,in
other words….anything someone else has touched, as most bugs will live on an object for 48 hours or more after an infected person has touched them. Get your elbows up and ready to greet the world! You surely won’t look cool, but you just may avoid a long seige of sickness this year.
Do The Chicken Bump Elbow Touch, Do Not Shake Hands, and Avoid Swine Flu