View Full Version : Bushcraft hand washing?
I don’t know if this has been covered before on another thread but cant find info on it.
I was wandering how do people clean there hand after going to the camp Karzi or before preparing food or administering first aid while out in the bush with no running water?
Reason I’m interested is since I’m getting back into re-enactment and a lot of the time there is a portaloo but no hand washing facilities which causes a problem if you are eating with your hands or preparing food.
nunzionuk
18-08-2011, 09:19
Hand Hygiene Foamer, from cuticura. Its what I use, also have some baby wipes in my kit for larger area cleaning.
I factor it into my water usage and just wash my hands,
RichardIT
18-08-2011, 09:30
Alcohol gel
pauljm116
18-08-2011, 09:32
Ive got some antibacterial wipes from boots, they do the job great and are also good for cleaning wounds.
Badger74
18-08-2011, 09:34
Grendel, I've seen you and your levitation trick on another forum!!! :-)
Alcohlol gel and baby wipes for me.
Scottishwanderer
18-08-2011, 10:21
I rarely urinate on my hands so if on my own i don't bother.
If your hands are muddy, wipe on back of jeans and carry on.
TallMikeM
18-08-2011, 10:27
as the others, wipes for dirt and gel for germs.
Grendel, I've seen you and your levitation trick on another forum!!! :-)
Alcohlol gel and baby wipes for me.
We Pirates be cunning like that. LOL.
Looks like i'll have to borrow some Alcohlol gel from work in that case.
thanks everyone for there advice
mrcharly
18-08-2011, 11:38
Reason I’m interested is since I’m getting back into re-enactment and a lot of the time there is a portaloo but no hand washing facilities which causes a problem if you are eating with your hands or preparing food.
Yes, it does cause a problem. Very bad practise, IMO. There should be a bowl of water and some soap near the loo. No excuse not to have this.
Rule one - always wash hands before eating or preparing food. Do this even if you've just come out of the kahzi and washed your hands. The risks of picking up undesirable bugs are high if you've been handling animals, soil or gone to the loo.
There is a reason why commercial kitchens have a sink specifically for washing hands.
Scottishwanderer
18-08-2011, 11:49
Yes, it does cause a problem. Very bad practise, IMO. There should be a bowl of water and some soap near the loo. No excuse not to have this.
Rule one - always wash hands before eating or preparing food. Do this even if you've just come out of the kahzi and washed your hands. The risks of picking up undesirable bugs are high if you've been handling animals, soil or gone to the loo.
There is a reason why commercial kitchens have a sink specifically for washing hands.
Most people have weak immune systems.
I eat raw meat, prepare rabbit and never wash my hands. Must ingest a lot of dirt.
I can't remember the last time i was ill because i have a strong immune system.
udamiano
18-08-2011, 12:57
If you wanted to stick with the theme of your re-ennactments then you could make your own soap! It a smelly business (excuse the pun) but if you add pine tar, it also has anti-bacterial properties, and its what would have been done in days or ole
It has been covered before.
I just wash my hand with soap and water. Alcohol gel works but really works best on hands free of debris or you end up sealing in muck, so I suppose soap and water then alcohol if your paranoid.
If no soap and water, then I use baby wipes to remove dirt and alcohol gel for killing bugs.
But, I much prefer to wash properly, so generally make a little tripod and leave one of these with water in the bottom of it.
7052
Simon
Most people have weak immune systems.
I eat raw meat, prepare rabbit and never wash my hands. Must ingest a lot of dirt.
I can't remember the last time i was ill because i have a strong immune system.
Not strictly true the "strong immune" argument is rubbish- you have just been lucky. I've spent 15 years plus dealing with sewage & drainage / env health and I still wash my hands before food.
It is quiet easy for people wit h"strong" immune system to get food poisoning from food, however, it is even easier to catch it from what has gone through a human gut. Anything that survives there is more adapted adn therefore more virulent in that environment.
Most cases of d & v from food source are not generally from the food itselft it is via poor hygiene and comes from the person handling the food.
TallMikeM
18-08-2011, 13:31
when I used to play soldiers not washing your hands when on ex was likely to get you a good... telling off. Not to mention a less than complimentary nickname.