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Have you stopped shaking hands with people because of swine flu? Do you butt bump instead?

Apparently Kathie Lee Gifford has stopped shaking hands with people because she doesn't want to risk wine flu and now she prefers to butt-bump instead. http://blogs.usatoday.com/entertainment/

Is shaking hands not worth the risk any more or is she over reacting?

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cmajaski
cmajaski
Marked as Best! October 12, 2009 11:41 PM
I think butt bumping would only work with people you are close to or know well. I don't see it as becoming appropriate in most business settings where handshaking takes place anyway.

Handshaking is not the entire cause of the spread of bacteria and sickness. Obviously, people should not put their fingers in their noses or mouths after shaking hands, and washing them periodically throughout the day helps as well. As far as flu and other viruses, it matters less who you've shaken hands with and more on who's sneezed or coughed in your face.

So, IMO, butt bumping doesn't help. It might be fun...maybe cute, I don't know.
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jodilovesj...
jodilovesj...
October 12, 2009 10:01 PM
I don't agree with "butt bumping". But, I have avoided shaking peoples hands. I'm more partial to "pounding" fists together. It's much more civil than "butt bumping".
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psionandy
psionandy
October 12, 2009 10:08 PM
I can kind of understand why she might not shake hands... but the whole butt-bumping thing seems really odd to me. I honestly don't know what I'd do if someone came up to me, said hello and butt bumped me, I'd either be completely bemused or I'd just be embarrased.....
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girlyskwer...
girlyskwer...
October 13, 2009 12:06 AM
I carry hand sanitizer. I have done this for years but I use it more frequently now, especially in and after the doctor's office.
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dtvrivera
dtvrivera
October 13, 2009 04:42 AM
I, too, have found myself glued to the hand sanitizer. I recently volunteered at my son's school bookfair and grew a little worried after hearing that close to 200 children at our school were out sick with the flu. Needless to say, every time I charged a child for an item at the bookfair, I swished some hand sanitizer into my hands. After our son's karate instructor came down with the flu, I now asked my children to wash their hands after their karate lessons (since they shake hands with instructors when earning a stripe for their belts). I also carry a small zip-lock bag of antibacterial wipes in my purse for those busy days at the groccery store when the shopping carts are crawling with bacteria. As far as shaking hands goes: Yes, I do seem to be more health and sanitation concious now that the swine flu is spreading rapidly.
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gamchep
gamchep
October 13, 2009 06:05 AM
Dear all
The best alternative to shaking hands, if you are finding shaking hands a problem is say "namaste", which is the Indian way of saying hello. It is very respectful, very hygienic and gives you and the receipient a sense of esteeem.
It is done with folding your hands in the region of your chest and bowing your head slightly
Regards
gamchep
Source(s):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Namaste
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