I will continue to shake hands and just use precautionary measures where and when possible. I recently went to the drug store and purchased a large bottle of Hand Sanitizer for my desk and a small bottle that I can keep in my pocket....basically, shake hands, work on computers, touch keyboards/phones, come back and sanitize. Simple and effective way to keep germs away.

No but I am more aware of shaking hands and try to wash my hands as soon as practicable after a bout of hand shaking.

It's a rare occasion that I have to shake anyone's hand in the first place, so I'll say no. You can't get much less than zero.

But I don't take these kinds of precautions, as a general rule. They've always seemed paranoid and panicky to me. Plus, I hate how hand sanitizer feels.

I have noticed similar trends since the flu season started. My younger son, who easily catches every bug going around has had a nasty cough for the past 3 weeks and I have noticed critical stares from people around him, likely judging me for bringing him out in public (there were no other flu symptoms other than coughing at the time and I made sure he covered his cough with a tissue, washed hands or carried hand sanitizer with him). My children are also in Karate and during their lessons the parents are seated in a lobby where the children can be observed doing their moves. Well, I have noticed people getting up and migrating around the lobby to far away seats, if they find themselves sitting next to a child or person coughing or complaining of feeling sick. I think most do not try to be rude and are simply trying to take precautions, since most have small children of their own, but sometimes the sick person may feel inadequate or at fault (which he/she is certainly not) for having a cold. It’s hard to draw the line in terms of how to behave in the midst of ill people in public when there is a virus cursing through our communities with the potentially fatal effects for young children. I think it’s important for everyone to remain objective and not to take such actions personally. In the end, most people are just trying to prevent further spread of illness and are likely not disgusted or revolted by the ill person. Of course, simple measures, such as carrying handsanitizer along and not touching your eyes, mouth or nose after being in contact with a person would still allow you to courteously shake hands with a person you meet.

I don't blame you, with what is going around us especially this H1N1 swine flu thing, one can be paranoid because of what we hear and see in the media everyday. Yes, we can be extra careful but sometimes we are unmindful of our actions and we forget,like for example as you said , if you are always in contact with people daily and shaking hands is just a natural thing that you do or must do.

For me if someone extends his/her hand first, i would shake hands because it seems rude not to. Then I will run to the restroom to wash or clean my hands with hand sanitizer which is a must have. You can just never tell where you can get the germs, or when you'll be sick so a sort of prevention never hurts and is necessary.

Well, my point is be careful, but getting paranoid that it affects your work or social and personal dealings with people is not good too.

Highly recommended video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gwUdmPl0bU&feature=related

I had not thought of it yet (not shaking hands), but I think I'll join those who hold off on the hand shaking a bit now that you mention it. I'm sure the bug will be passed wherever there are a lot of people or a lot of physical contact (like handshaking). I did consider staying home from Church last week, but you have to understand that our local (less than a mile from my house) middle school had 75 students out yesterday and will be closed the rest of this week.

My daughter is a substitute teacher and my wife has been a middle school teacher for 14 years. Fortunately for us, they don't work at the school that is closed, but not so luckily, my daughter is not only in her first year of teaching (lower resistance), but the nature of a substitute is that she is often filling in for someone who is ill. The H1N1 virus can exist on surfaces up to 48 hours, and many teachers come in to leave lesson plans a few hours before school, potentially leaving the virus along with the plans. Nobody wants to get sick, but substitute teachers make their living by staying healthy enough to teach while others are getting sick.

We went on a germ preparation shopping trip and bought hand sanitizer (60% alcohol based) along with sanitizing wipes that she carries with her. We got Clorox disinfecting wipes, the ones that say "kills the flu virus" on the dispenser. She wipes down the teachers desk and actually makes the wipes available to the children.

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_7vcQ6ylZXhc/St7nwfCg5zI/AAAAAAAAAUY/h1sopLYJBfo/cdw.jpg

Well in India, we meet people not by shaking hands but by Namaste, that is joining our both hands. So no question of touching other's hand. Perhaps waving hand seem to be better way than shaking.

Should you require more help ? Contact me anytime.

Nope...

Since the age of 12, when I saw a National Geographic on a snake charmer in India who's parents gave him small doses of cobra venom as a child to make him immune to cobra venom ( he is now immune to cobra venom as an adult), I have tried to build my own immune system.

I try to shake more hands so my body gets exposed and learns to fight it off!

...I am now 24 and have not been sick in over 5 years...

I wish more people were like your salesperson. My experience has been that most people don't even think about it. They throw out their hand without a second thought. I carry hand sanitizer in my purse, sometimes in my pocket

I think a 'fist bump' would be a better greeting with the H1N1 so widespread.

If they didn't extend their hand, I wouldn't extend my hand but I would breathe a sigh of relief