Posted by Art_PA on 1/3/13 6:35am
Msg #448598

Don"t Shake Hands

Germs are transmitted by shaking hands. don't shake hands. Just say that you have a cold, are getting over a cold, or may be getting a cold. "My wife/husband is sick" Make up whatever feels right for you.

Reply by JamesLee/VA on 1/3/13 7:05am
Msg #448599

Don't breathe..Don't sit in a public place...Don't love on your children..Don't kiss your spouse...DON'T GO OUTSIDE..The sky may be falling ..Just kidding you Art. Carry germicide. Shaking hands is a part of our business that conveys thanks or congratulations. If I was a borrower and you told me you were "getting a cold" I don't think Id want you in my house. You are more contagious than a "handshake" JMHO

Reply by ME/NJ on 1/3/13 8:11am
Msg #448601

My wife is sick now, I did not feel well a week before christmas. That time of year again.

Reply by PJM/MI on 1/3/13 8:17am
Msg #448603

I carry hand sanitizer & USE it after each & every closing.

Reply by ME/NJ on 1/3/13 8:20am
Msg #448605

It's the little one who gets the whole house sick

But so far knock on wood she has not caught anything this year. Last year I think she had something all winter and spread it all to us.

Reply by 101livescan on 1/3/13 8:53am
Msg #448609

Well, I got my cold all on my own, with freezing temperatures in my neck of the woods (www.sueycreek.org). We even had snow last weekend. But I refrain from shaking hands during cold/flu season. This is the first cold I've had in years. Hate it...hard to sleep at night.

Reply by Shoshana/AZ on 1/3/13 9:02am
Msg #448611

The worst thing someonme can do is use hand sanitizer.

It ruins the immune system. When we old folks were children back in the last century, we played in the dirt, etc. Maybe we didn't even wash our hands before dinner. Oh horror of horrors! There was no hand sanitizer. We did not get sick because our immune systems became accustomed to the germs.
Today we get sick because children don't have a chance to build up their immune systems! The chemicals in those hand sanitizers are very bad for our health!
We are a nation of germophobes.

Reply by Kendall Challenger on 1/3/13 11:02am
Msg #448636

There is a pretty nasty influenza going around every where right now. The borrower for my 5:00 tonight just called me back to say that both he and his wife are terribly sick with the flu and that it would not be in my best interest to come out tonight. They are going to try to reschedule for next week now. I'm sure glad that they were responsible enough people to let me know.

Reply by Darlin_AL on 1/3/13 11:30am
Msg #448643

So, get a flu shot & be sensible people!

This old lady DID play in the dirt; I let my boys play outside in all weather & just made sure they got dry & ate good food. I wash my hands at least 20 times while prepping raw stuff for meals, but w regular soap. I do shake hands; went to a house where the Ms had the flu & a prior signing agent practically hung up on her while confirming appt; I was called & said sure, no problemo. The young lady was a teacher w young kids at home. She was fine when I got there. I do use hand sanitizer in the car after I leave a signing & before I eat in the car. That's it for me (retired from office work). My oldest did not even get a cold before he was 7; all family members have good immune health--but colds happen. IF your signers are not feeling well, that is up to them to reschedule & good for them for stating they just weren't up to it. These transactions are a big deal for everyone involved--but the BO's are really the primary here. In my humblest of all opinions..oh yes, keep up on your sleep too!

Reply by emilysigns on 1/3/13 11:56am
Msg #448655

Re: So, get a flu shot & be sensible people!

I recently had a BO who was an admitted germaphobe. He wanted to use his own pen, which was not the required color. I asked him to use the pen I provided and he asked how many people before him had used it.

huh. Good question, honestly. I pulled out a fresh one from the package in my bag, but it made me think that I should wipe my pens down with lysol wipes or something in between signings.

hahaha. I just had a vision of having to triple pak my pens. "sanitized for your protection"

Reply by JanetK_CA on 1/3/13 4:19pm
Msg #448706

Re: So, get a flu shot & be sensible people!

Yeah, getting a good night's sleep seems to be the key ingredient for me. (And of course, it's easier said than done in our business!) I also get a flu shot and take my vitamins (and probiotics, which help the immune system). But it's only when I'm running on fumes and not getting enough sleep that I succumb.

I tend to get a rash from the alcohol in those hand sanitizers, so I don't use them, but I do carry some with me, just in case. (Can be used to clean pens or for borrowers who might be concerned.) I also bought a big box of individual sanitizing wipes from Costco that come in handy from time to time.

Reply by BossLadyMD on 1/3/13 12:05pm
Msg #448661

I've never shook hands, my hands are always full!

I do say Congrats!

Reply by GOLDGIRL/CA on 1/3/13 12:31pm
Msg #448664

I'm with you, BossLady

Always make sure both hands are full with pens, tote bag, notary journal, whatever, when you get to the front door. Then, if borrower sticks their hand out, you just smile and wave your otherwise occupied hands around or proceed to signing table.

Reply by MW/VA on 1/3/13 1:47pm
Msg #448681

IMO all those precautions only go so far. A lot of this

stuff is airbourne. I've been sick for over a wk. & cancelled all my signings. I knew I was contagious. I've also worn a mask when I had to go to the drs. office, etc.