World Fist Bump Day ™

By Donna Wright | Bradenton Herald

BRADENTON — Ban the handshake — that’s Dr. Joe Soler’s advice for avoiding swine flu, which appears to be spreading fast in certain areas of the United States, Mexico, Canada, New Zealand and Europe.

When Soler and his colleagues greet patients at Pinnacle Urgent Care, 315 75th St. W., they look like they are doing a do-si-do as they tap their elbows to say hello.

Soler, the medical director of Pinnacle Urgent Care Center, has been avoiding shaking hands with patients and friends “It’s the only safe way to greet someone,” Soler says. “Flu and cold germs spread when people touch their hands to their mouths, eyes or nose.“ read full story

I haven’t heard authorities specifically issue a moratorium on shaking folks’ hands, but limiting the practice of glad-handing–along with random hugs and cheek-kissing on people you really don’t know–is synonymous with staying healthy in these biblically weird times.

So how, short of standing across a room and waving or donning a bubble suit, are we to physically greet friends and acquaintances?

Say hello to the fist bump.

You’ve seen it. Instead of shaking hands, you take your fist and “bump” someone else’s fist at the knuckles. The fist bump, while a physical connection, doesn’t involve touching the open palm, where most germs collect.

Full story

More and more people are bumping fists as a form of greeting. I think the time has come to make the Fist Bump an acceptable alternative to the handshake.

The main reason I started this movement is not related to politics or any deeper meaning of the Fist Bump or its origin. I’m concerned with the health aspect of a handshake. It’s been proven beyond doubt that germs swapped in a handshake is one of the main ways people contract a wide range of viruses that can lead to colds, influenza, stomach viruses and many unpleasant illnesses.

Honestly, is a normal handshake worth the health risk? Is it that important to grab someones hand a squeeze it? Do you know where the hand you’re about to shake has been? Yes, I admit I sometimes think thoughts like that and I know I’m not alone.

When you shake a hand that feels a bit wet or clammy, maybe even sticky, do you have a sudden urge to wipe of whatever moved into the palm of your hand? I admit I sometimes do. I’m not a germaphone in any sense. I have two dogs and germs have built cities around me. But, for me the act of clasping two hands into a firm “germshake” is not worth the risk of getting thousands of germs that can’t wait to go to war against my immune system with one single objective….. make me sick. I can’t stand being sick, it’s such a waste of time.

If there were no alternatives to a handshake I would live with this risk since I was raised to be a polite person, respect others and the handshake is an important part of this behavior. I fully understand what a handshake means to most people and that it is a fine gesture between two people.

But, so can gentle Fist Bump be! You’re still acknowledging and focusing on giving sole attention to the other person and by timing it right with the proper touch it can still be a special moment.

Think about all the money saved nation wide if people got less sick by not transferring viruses from hand to hand. And it does not stop there. These hands will soon touch other objects which in turn will be touched by other people’s hands… it just goes on and on in a never ending circle of germs.

So, please join me in making the Fist Bump an acceptable way of greeting people we meet. The goal is to make everyone comfortable and not feel disrespected. I think we’re close. We now see presidents, celebrities and many others bumping hands.

I realize that the handshake will always be around, some will never give that up. I don’t mind shaking hands with people I know or when I’m on my way to a restroom knowing I will wash my hands seconds later. I just hope we can get the Fist Bump to a level as an acceptable alternative to the handshake.

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