[CALIBK12] Checking Out Ear buds, revisiting the hygiene issue

[Joan McCall]

Interestingly, there are virtually no hygiene problems associated with  
sharing earbuds. My husband, an Otolaryngologist who has done research  
on ear wax, says that touching the ear or ear canal is no different  
than touching your face. While it's color makes ear wax look icky, it  
does not harbor any virus or bacteria that can be transmitted. It is  
actually a very neutral substance and unless someone has an active  
infection of some sort, there is no problem sharing earbuds.

I keep alcohol wipes and other cleaners on hand for all parts of the  
players (or books) when they come in especially grimy. We should worry  
more about what is transmitted by hands than by ears!

Joan McCall, TL
Beattie Middle School
Redlands USD


On Dec 5, 2008, at 8:44 AM, Douglas Dilts wrote:

> Thanks to all of you responded to my question about setting up a  
> system for checking out Playaway ear buds in Destiny.
>
> I’ve decided to just “faggidabowdit” and not track them. If a  
> student doesn’t have them, we’ll sell them to ‘em for a buck. If  
> they don’t have a buck, we’ll let them borrow them. If they don’t  
> give them back, well, I guess we’ll charge the student a dollar and  
> put it on their account. (Although, on a related issue, we stopped  
> charging overdue fines this year and have noticed no effect on the  
> rate of books returned late. And students are thrilled when we tell  
> them there are no charges anymore.)
>
> There’s the sanitation issue, as well, although I know some use  
> alcohol wipes to clean the ear buds when they are returned. I  
> imagine a microbiologist might tell us that isn’t very effective.
>
> Thanks again, everyone.
>
>
> Doug Dilts
> Library Media Teacher
> South Tahoe High School
> 530-541-4111 x240
> http://www.ltusd.org/sths/
>
>
> <image001.gif>
>
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