Topic: Hygiene Standards

Since the incident on the Marco Polo it is becoming clear cruise lines need a review to ensure they are providing the rights things in the right place and that the gel dispensers are checked regularly and topped up. There clearly needs to be more information possibly in the pack when you join the ship and more reminder in the toilets on the back of the door and on the walls to remind the passengers to wash there hands. There are daily news sheets issued to guests another way to get the message over. One reply was from someone who had written a review on the Marco Polo in March and he describes some of the problems he saw then and took the view it was an accident waiting to happen. Maybe others have got tips the cruise lines could think about using to get the message over to their guests.

I think it is a question of educating the passengers. I'm sure most people who post reviews about how Code Red on their ship spoilt the holiday are scrupulous [hmm] with their hygiene, food handling etc but the fact is, many aren't and at the risk of being seen as ageist, it is the older generations who are the major culprits in my experience. I actually overheard an old lady saying she wasn't going to be dictated to by a young whippersnapper[she was English]when she went into dine. The young officers were at the door of the dining room squirting everyone's hands. In my opinion, she shouldn't have been allowed to go in. As for the buffets....The number of times I have seen the elderly actually pick up food[a tomato say] and put it back again as it didn't pass muster. a] they hold up the queue whilst investigating the fare on offer and b] it's a total no no with all the viruses about. Now i'm sure many of my age and younger are also at fault but it's the older folk whom I have seen many times. If it means I stay well,I am quite happy to be served at a buffet, at least the servers are wearing hygienic gloves.

QUOTE:

I think it is a question of educating the passengers.

I'm sure most people who post reviews about how Code Red on their ship spoiled the holiday
are scrupulous [hmm] with their hygiene, food handling etc
but the fact is, many aren't - and at the risk of being seen as ageist
it is the older generations who are the major culprits in my experience. ===> This is about Public Health, not political correctness, for which I have no time

I actually overheard an old lady saying she wasn't going to be dictated to by a young whippersnapper[she was English]
when she went into dine. ===> Bad attitude!
The young officers were at the door of the dining room squirting everyone's hands.
In my opinion, she shouldn't have been allowed to go in. ===> Agreed!

As for the buffets....The number of times I have seen the elderly actually pick up food[a tomato say]
and put it back again as it didn't pass their muster.

a] they hold up the queue whilst investigating the fare on offer and
b] it's a total no-no with all the viruses about!

Now I'm sure many of my age and younger are also at fault
but it's the older folk whom I have seen many times.
If it means I stay well,I am quite happy to be served at a buffet,
at least the servers are wearing hygienic gloves.

Morton, I reckon you've got a very valid point there! ;)


It been my personal sociological observation that many older folks in "the winter of their lives"
i.e. obviously past their Best by: date
get quite slack and uncaring in their public hygiene
presumably since they realize they're on the downhill slide,now.

Awful thing to say, but they do get that way
and we too may follow as we realize that 'the horizon draweth nigh!'

In reckon it's a problem, yes!

Some over-75's get to be forgetful and simply un-caring ..in much the same way
that toddlers and small children can be very dangerous to themselves
and to their entire household

_____________________________________
Flame me all you want. I'm in my 60th. year
and I realize full well that I too am just a few years away
from being accused of the same uncaring anti-social behaviour.

This is simply the grim reality of Old Age -it befalls us all eventually
unless we're lucky to go young!


.

QUOTE:

.. it is becoming clear cruise lines need a review
to ensure they are providing the rights things in the right place
and that the gel dispensers are checked regularly and topped up.

While on a behind-the-scenes tour of a RCCL cruise ship back in April
I asked about the effectiveness of the alcohol-gel squirt at restaurant entrances.

The ship's Environmental Officer conducting our tour didn't seem impressed.
As I probed further
I gathered his opinion was that "it's better than nothing" but really not effective!

No substitute for a thorough washing of the hands before going in to meals, was his stance
and I think he's right!


A very thorough lad from Grimsby, he was!!

That's him -in the ship's garbage room!


.................................................. ........

Personally, I try not to hold onto ships' handrails if I can get away with it.
I'm also suspicious of public-area bathroom door handles, particularly the inside door handles
and have been known to flush toilets with a quick tap of the toe!
rather than use my hand.

When washing my hands, I now routinely use some of the soap on my hands
to wash the turn-cock on the same tap I just turned on
using my soiled hand to do so!

What's the point of washing your hands..
if you're then going to touch the soiled turn-cock to turn the water off??
Use your head!


Like so many humans I rub my eyes, bite my nails and pick my nose from time to time..
and this is how germs enter the body -via porous pink membranes
in the eyes,nose and mouth.


Time to get with the program, people!
Viruses are a more successful life-form than human beings! ;)


.

We had the wet wipes for the first time on our recent Legend trip in the Far East. This was only a couple of weeks after Swine Flu panicked the world & I must say RCI were very stringent, with someone posted on the Windjammer doors for every minute of opening times, no one being allowed past without a paper wipe. The MDR at night had two Head Waiters on each door, standing left & right of the entrances, & once again no one could bypass the system. So, well done Legend crew!

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/07/10/swine.flu.uk/index.html?iref=mpstoryview


=============================================



LONDON, England (CNN) -
- The UK now has the third highest number of cases worldwide,
after the U.S. and Mexico, according from the British government data.


Lab tests show that there were 9,718 confirmed cases of the virus in the UK,
a figure that's just behind Mexico, which had 10,262 cases as of Wednesday.

The U.S. currently has the highest number with 33,902 lab-confirmed cases,
according to latest figures from the World Health Organization.

Across the world there have been 94,512 cases of swine flu
since it was first reported in Mexico in April with 429 deaths, WHO figures show.

Fourteen patients are now thought to have died in the UK after contracting swine flu,
the country's Health Protection Agency reported.

The number of deaths in the UK has risen dramatically since Tuesday
when seven people were known to have died from the H1N1 virus.
A week ago, the total was four.


However, not all the people who have died of swine flu, died as direct result of the virus.
All patients had underlying health problems, Britain's Chief Medical Officer Sir Liam Donaldson said.

An estimated 8,000 people are thought to have contracted the disease in Britain in the last week,
from around 27,000 who called their doctor complaining of the flu,
newly released National Health Service (NHS) figures show.

There are currently 335 people in hospital in England with swine flu,
of whom 43 are in critical care, the NHS said.

Figures for the rates per 100,000 people in the UK
showed children aged between five and 14 were among the worst affected by swine flu,
followed by those aged one to four.

But the true scale of numbers affected in Britain could remain unknown
as the figures did not take into account those treating themselves at home.


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

GROUPS AT RISK

Patients who have had drug treatment for asthma in the past three years

Pregnant women

People aged 65 years and older

Children under five years old

People with chronic liver disease

People with chronic heart disease

People with chronic kidney disease

Source: National Health Service
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Donaldson was reported by the UK's Press Association as saying:
"We know something about the people seeking help from the NHS
but there will be many other people who look after themselves
or don't realize they have it and don't show up."


He added: "We have to acknowledge the problem is bigger than surveillance is showing us.
"That will always be the case, it would be the case with seasonal flu or anything else."

Last week, health secretary Andy Burnham warned that by the end of August,
around 100,000 people will be affected with the virus every single day.

He moved the country on to treatment mode,
which means people with flu symptoms will be encouraged to quarantine themselves at home
and get a friend to pick up anti-viral drugs for them.

The first batches of vaccine are expected to arrive in the UK by late August, according to the NHS.


It says 30 million double doses -- enough for half the population --
are expected to be available by the end of the year.

"The government has ordered enough vaccine for the whole population and, when it becomes available,
will focus on those at the greatest risk first," the NHS reports on it's Web site.

I have heard/read several times that the hand gels are anti bacterial and are not effective against viruses...the best cleanser is soap and water (for the amount of time it takes to sing 'Happy Birthday') apparently!! You don't have to sing it out loud...in your head will do!!!
I have been surprised by the number of 'ladies' who do not wash their hands at all after using the toilet ....

In the loos at Christie hospital, the makers of a well known liquid soap have a slogan on the wall above the wash basins and it just says.....ARE YOU A WASHER OR A WALKER.....
says it all really.

It is very difficult to police without people getting upset ( Morton's example) but I do believe that ships must play a part in the re education of people in simple and safe hygiene in order for every passenger to understand it is in their interest to follow the guidelines. There is one time on board where there is already a captive and attentive audience. The obligatory 'lifeboat/emergency drill'. As well as the Captain explaining the importance of the drill, the Ship's senior doctor should also 'lecture' on hygiene immediately afterwards. If this was done every cruise then those passengers who see others blatantly ignoring the rules over hand washing/gel/keeping handles out of food, would feel more able to remind fellow passengers of the error of their ways. Or report them to officers/buffet staff.

On our most recent cruise with Royal Caribbean, the Captain kept re-enforcing the message of the importance of hand washing etc. Everytime he made an announcement, be it arrival at port or the noon information he would end his messages by saying Thank You to everyone for observing the hand washing rules, thus not dictating as such but acting as a constant reminder it was done in a thoughtful manner. The external doors to the Windjammer were roped off and you could only enter and exit via the main doors where a member of staff would dispense the cleaning hand wipes. I even witnessed them on several occasions 'chasing' after people who tried to by pass them. So well done RC.