Sven and I went to the skin doctor today. While at the Harwich office, where we have waited up to three hours at a time in the past, it occurred to me the H1N1 virus could be floating around the facility. A little voice inside my head took up the mantra, “Wash hands, wash hands, wash hands!” When I venture into public places now, I always keep an eye out for the restroom. If an innkeeper becomes sick with swine flu, he/she must turn guests away.
I concluded over a month ago that Rule One is to stop shaking hands. Sven and I like to meet guests at the door. A firm handshake creates a positive impression and adds to the homey atmosphere of our bed & breakfast. Now a friendly wave across the yard will have to suffice. This change, called “social distancing,” proves harder to put into practice than one might think. Extending my right hand to greet guests has become a reflex.
Rule Two? Wash Hands. Wash hands after that unintended handshake but also after a trip into town for provisions or to the library. I’m not crazy about instant hand sanitizer and wash my hands more often than ever. Since most places offer soap with fragrance, parabens and God-only-knows what else, I have started carrying a small bottle of Trillium Organics liquid soap around in my purse. (See Trillium’s neat page called Toxins Avoided here.)
Rule Three? In this unusual flu season, innkeepers need to stock up on green cleansers and use them with more assiduity than ever in case a guest may already have H1N1. Infected people can infect others beginning one day before symptoms develop and up to seven or more days after becoming sick.
If a guest cancels a reservation due to swine flu, should the innkeeper reimburse the deposit? I handled such a situation last week by allowing guests to reschedule. Giving folks such leeway does represent a loss of income. But swine flu is a valid reason to stay home. So, I adjust accordingly.
For a more detailed, legal view on how to behave during the swine flu outbreak, go here.
We have only one reservation for November, and this, I think is due to the arrival of winter. People are once again cocooning. The best way to avoid H1N1 is to stay home.
What new behaviors have you adopted to beat the risk of swine flu?
16 comments:
Oh, I definitely wash my hands more now. And I make it a point to mention loudly that my daughter has asthma when she's having a coughing fit -- so nobody thinks she's ill. But my 5-year old's best friend got H1N1 and really did fine. He was mildly under the weather for a week and it wasn't even as bad as the seasonal flu!
I agree with you about hand sanitizer, Alexandra. I think it does more harm than good. I can totally see why you are no longer shaking hands but it seems sad in a way, doesn't it? Social distancing...
I guess, since I'm not an inn keeper, I'm not feeling worried about swine flu. My kids have all gotten a bit sick and perhaps it's because of the flu -- who knows? -- but it's been really mild and easy to deal with and honestly not a big deal.
So, we are definitely trying to wash hands more and I've kept my kids home from school even though they really could have gone ... just to make sure no one else gets infected.
Good luck. I wonder if Nov will be slower than usual this year?
Like Jennifer, I also find the idea of giving up physical contact to be sad. Seems to me we lose something more than germs when we touch less. But, then, I'm not an innkeeper.
I would be so happy to have you as my innkeeper! It's great you're so concerned - there are probably some who are not. My son and I believe we had H1N1 in the spring and my daughter just got through it, but ended up with pneumonia at the end, so it's definitely something to avoid.
Question for you that is sort of related - what are the innkeeping rules about washing things like blankets and pillows? I worry about that when I stay at hotels or inns.
Thanks, Martha!
At this time of the year we have duvets, which always have cotton covers that get washed. Ditto for pillows, which have encasements as well as pillowcases.
These are crucial issues not only at this particular time but always. So glad you're talking about them here.
Even Donald Trump says he doesn't shake hands anymore. I like your idea of a wave.
It's nice of you not to charge people if they cancel due to illness. That really does create good will.
I think that was good business allowing them to reschedule. You might end up with customers for life because of that kindness.
Yes, sad to have to give up the warm exchange of hand-shaking, but I think more and more people understand this. Maybe they're even relieved. I know that I am getting so very paranoid and washing my hands a TON. Once the winter settles in, they're really going to be like sandpaper. All the lotion in the world is not enough to keep them from chapping :(
I'm burying my head in the sand a bit about this. There are no vax to be found here, so I'm just living my life. Potty training my son leads to tons of handwashing anyway!
Juliette just got vaccinated for the swine flu today... I tried to but they wouldn't let me cause I'm not at risk and they don't have enough vaccines. Nathalie couldn't cause she's asthmatic and you can't do the mist when you're asthmatic.
Even if the vaccinations were available, I don't think they'd offer them to my relatively healthy brood. I have noticed this year I'm less likely to shake hands and greet with a wave or nod instead. Interesting to hear how H1N1 affects your business.
Winter is the time when I travel the most, and to Ireland and Scotland, where people not only shake hands but embrace you. will be interested to see if that changes, especially in the music community, where people must also cancel if they get sick -- yet are expected to shake hands with fans and presenters as part of their work.
Glad to hear Juliette got the vaccine!
We just had a second cancellation, due to H1N1.
Oh Alexandra, I never would have thought about this aspect of innkeeping. It must be so nervewracking... and you're dealing with it gracefully. :)
Maybe you should take up putting your hands together for a Namaste?
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