Sars: Tips

A notice has been posted in our building and around the public areas of the estate where we live, giving folks tips on how to avoid catching SARS.

Looking at the list, I think Hong Kongers are in trouble:

1. Build up good body immunity. This means taking a proper diet, having regular exercise and adequate rest, reducing stress and avoiding smoking.

· Without fast food half of Hong Kong would starve to death.

· People here get winded taking the lift.

· Most get lots of sleep on the bus or train. That's adequate, isn't it?

· Folks do plenty of stress reduction in the pub after work. And isn't alcohol a good disinfectant?

· Avoid smoking? This is Hong Kong. Avoid breathing.

2. Maintain good personal hygiene. Cover nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing.

· Which means folks will splatter their hands and then touch everything they come into contact with, including handrails, ATM keypads and door handles.

3. Wash hands when they are dirtied by respiratory secretions e.g. after sneezing.

· What, no mention of nose-picking?

4. Keep hands clean and wash hands properly. Use liquid soap for hand washing and disposable towel for drying hands.

· And try drying your hands before you leave the washroom, instead of leaving behind a dripping door handle for the rest of us.

5. Do not share towels.

· The mere thought of this gives me the willies.

6. Keep home environment clean and cleanse furniture properly.

· Running something under the faucet or wiping it down with tap water doesn't qualify as proper cleansing.

7. Maintain good indoor ventilation.

· Open the windows. Let in some air. Choke on exhaust fumes. Smell your neighbour's ghastly attempts at cooking. Inhale the odor of burning paper. Breathe deeply.

8. Avoid visiting crowded places with poor ventilation.

· Well let's see now ... that leaves out shopping malls, Causeway Bay, the MTR and KCR, buses, Mong Kok, computer malls, Central, restaurants, Wan Chai, bars ...

9. Consult your doctor promptly if you develop respiratory symptoms.

· Infect him too. While you're at it, cough on the security guard of your building on the way over there.

People always wait until something goes wrong before changing their habits.

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