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Colds, flu, and other germy infections.
I caught a cold a week ago. I travel on public transport a
lot, and I think that over the years that through
exposure,
Ive built up a reasonable immune system. But I was on a
train that served one of our international airports, and I
probably found
a strain that I hadnt come across before.
I know that handwashing kills most pathogens, but who
has
the time to do that after every train journey?
Handrails, doorhandles and other hard surfaces on public
transport could easily be made of copper.
studies have shown (ill find a link) that copper door
handles in hospitals and health centres could
significantly
reduce cross-contamination.
So do it on tube trains, buses etc. and fewer people get
ill.
Copper door handles kill nasty bugs
https://www.southam...ling-superbugs.page Southampton University have done extensive research: Hospital trials show copper door handles etc. kill pathogenic bacteria and viruses in minutes [Frankx, Sep 27 2019]
Rapid_20Handrail
solved! [xenzag, Sep 27 2019]
[link]
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Brass is what you want, I think. Lasts longer than copper and,
in some formulations, doesn't tarnish as easily. |
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Plus, copper'll be pinched the moment your back's turned. |
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... said the man whos family derives substantial income from a flourishing scrap non-ferrous metal business. |
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Why not just run some thin plastic pipework along the ceiling with occasional spray nozzles, and constantly mist the areas with suitable biocides, such as chlorophenols ? |
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I think your heart was in the right place. Don't let these
naysayers put you off. + |
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Hey [Ian], how are the anger management sessions going with the new therapist ? |
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Is the previous one out of hospital yet ? |
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Whoooasie. Somebody fell out of the bed on the wrong side
today...yikes, Mr. T. I won't be caught dead leaning on nothing
if I ever do get to your side of the Atlantic. Yikes, indeed. |
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+ for the ensuing discussion |
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+ for [Ian]'s grumble about lazy tube passengers. As
any Londoner knows, the only way to stand on a
crowded tube is in the middle of the carriage, not
holding onto anything, casually demonstrating your
superb balancing skills while the train speeds along
and you read your book or look at your phone,
making out that it's no effort at all to maintain your
balance and that you are a superhuman tube ninja. |
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I do that! (believe it or not) I watched as many did exactly similar in Japan especially on the Yamanote line. Being suitably impressed, I decided to have a go. It was hard at first, but now I really enjoy the challenge, and will choose to stand even when there are seats, especially in the New York subway. I've never seen anyone else doing this outside of Tokyo, but maybe it's common in London and in some other places? In the UK people are so fat now that their giant bellies should provide for a lower centre of gravity, making the task much easier. American's tiny brains, combined with their greater belly mass than even UK citizens should have the effect of lowering their centres of gravity to an even lower level again, so they should have no problem whatsover. (ha) It could become a new balancing while moving craze. |
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[Ian] reminded me, why does the handrail and the actual steps go at different speeds? |
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HA - I used that flaw to solve a long standing problem on the Tube and in return got invited unto the BBC's genius programme. (see link) |
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:) its not solved though, is it? |
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It would be solved instantly if only they initiated
Rapid Handrail. |
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Copper, and more practically brass is, as mentioned,
what you want. All this plastic or stainless steel
nonsense is a downgrade in all regards. For extra
benefit, consider heating to 45+°C, it will have a
dessication effect and even if something can live
happily at those temperatures it's unlikely to also be
a viable human pathogen. |
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This suggests that there may be a market for a Personal Hygiene Flamethrower, allowing the user to sterilize suspect surfaces with a cleansing kiss of purifying flame prior to physical contact. |
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<Decides to watch DVD of Species again, particularly the lab scene where Ben Kingsley nearly incinerates two of his team members/> |
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If you want to stop diseases being spread by contact
with germ-ridden handrails, just get rid of all the
handrails |
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This is one of those ideas that I knew I'd bun as soon as I saw the title. |
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Me too! But it's pretty rare here in Calgary. I think I've only ever seen two other
people doing it. That reminds meI came up with an idea related to it a few
years ago that I should post. |
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Could it be turned into a competetive sport ? |
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It would work best on aircraft ; "During turbulence, and with a minimum blood alcohol content of <X> , walk from one end of the aisle to the other without touching any part of the structure other than the floor". |
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That related idea I mentioned was a kind of competition,
actually. But it wasn't quite the kind of competition you
described. |
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Copper has a tendency to get stolen and sold for
scrap. |
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//sold for scrap//
Aye, maybe. But mostly if its trackside. Things
like signalling cables and traction current. They
get stolen with a hilarious regularity, given tha (in
some cases) theyre carrying safety-critical or
high-voltage electrowiggles. |
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Handrails on a train are probably not likely to be
nicked. Much. |
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Also, the copper is just the surface, could be steel
underneath. |
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But the buggers nicking it wouldnt necessarily
know that... ho hum. |
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//safety-critical or high-voltage electrowiggles...Handrails on
a train are probably not likely to be nicked. Much.// Why not
simply electrify the handrails? |
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Oh yes, thats brilliant! Thanks [MB] |
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