Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution => Topic started by: neilep on 05/03/2007 15:29:18

Title: Do I need To wash My hands After Holding A Worm ?
Post by: neilep on 05/03/2007 15:29:18
I really love worms !

Last night as it rained I saved a stranded worm in the middle of my driveway !..I picked it ..gave it a hug and then placed it on a damp patch of earth where it happily burrowed away !!


There was no goo or stuff like that on my hand .........so did I need to wash my hands ?...cos worms are nice and clean are they not ?
Title: Do I need To wash My hands After Holding A Worm ?
Post by: Karen W. on 05/03/2007 15:55:39
Germ wise who knows idea wise, I wash my hands.. I cannot touch a worm with out vomiting..LOL my sister threw one at me as a child , it hit me on my lower lip and made me sick and has done so since when I touch them. However I can remove them with gloves..LOL all so very much in the your mind!
Title: Do I need To wash My hands After Holding A Worm ?
Post by: neilep on 05/03/2007 16:31:34
Well I think worms are great....I mean ..they just are !!

they are the gardeners friend !!

Do they make good pets I wonder ?



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Title: Do I need To wash My hands After Holding A Worm ?
Post by: Carolyn on 05/03/2007 16:37:44
Yuck yuck yuck....Yes wash those hands.  Who knows what those little slimy, yucky critters have crawled and slithered through.  Oooooo.  Just looking at the piccy makes my skin crawl.
Title: Do I need To wash My hands After Holding A Worm ?
Post by: neilep on 05/03/2007 16:50:43
LOL..I am going to find my worm and make him/her my pet ! (they are hermaphrodites aren't they ?)

I will attach a small lead and take him/her out for walks and teach it tricks !
Title: Do I need To wash My hands After Holding A Worm ?
Post by: Karen W. on 05/03/2007 16:52:20
We had a worm farm at school to teach the children how the worms make dirt! It was interesting.. wasn't my lesson another teacher, but I found it interesting. I did not know that worms made dirt!! from broken down rotting vegetation. their excrement if you will is our lovely dirt! At least that was what I was taught.. I wonder if she was accurate??
Title: Do I need To wash My hands After Holding A Worm ?
Post by: paul.fr on 05/03/2007 17:19:24
We had a worm farm at school to teach the children how the worms make dirt! It was interesting.. wasn't my lesson another teacher, but I found it interesting. I did not know that worms made dirt!! from broken down rotting vegetation. their excrement if you will is our lovely dirt! At least that was what I was taught.. I wonder if she was accurate??

I seem to remember being taught the same thing. hand washing is very important!
Title: Do I need To wash My hands After Holding A Worm ?
Post by: Karen W. on 05/03/2007 17:34:49
YEPPEROO!
Title: Do I need To wash My hands After Holding A Worm ?
Post by: neilep on 05/03/2007 17:39:23
Ok OK !!....I'll wash my hands....can it wait a week though as I am only a few days away from  my annual bath !
Title: Do I need To wash My hands After Holding A Worm ?
Post by: Karen W. on 05/03/2007 17:43:15
 Just go stand outside inthe rain you will enjoy rain LUFF better anyways..LOL Happy Handwashing!
Title: Do I need To wash My hands After Holding A Worm ?
Post by: Bored chemist on 05/03/2007 19:27:32
It's probably a good idea to wash your hands, but I wonder how important it is in the grand scheme of things. Presumably you are worried about picking up some infection/ parasite/ whatever from the worm. People are really quite different from worms- any parasite which has evolved to thrive in a worm will probably not be well adapted to survive in you. I suspect people are more likely to pick up parasites from other mammals- do you wash your hands after stroking dogs and cats? and more likely still to get them from other humans- a good excuse to give up on public transport.
Title: Do I need To wash My hands After Holding A Worm ?
Post by: neilep on 05/03/2007 23:40:02
It's probably a good idea to wash your hands, but I wonder how important it is in the grand scheme of things. Presumably you are worried about picking up some infection/ parasite/ whatever from the worm. People are really quite different from worms- any parasite which has evolved to thrive in a worm will probably not be well adapted to survive in you. I suspect people are more likely to pick up parasites from other mammals- do you wash your hands after stroking dogs and cats? and more likely still to get them from other humans- a good excuse to give up on public transport.

THANK YOU BC.

I appreciate your wisdom here.

I do in fact wash my hands after stroking dogs and cats.......and I do my level best to NOT touch the stupid handle on the inside of public toilets to get out....cos half the filthy miscreants don't wash their hands at all !....sorry....didn't mean to digress but I just hate it when I have washed and dried my hands that I then have to touch a filthy disgusting door handle !.......i usually use my sleeve or pull it from the ultra bottom of the handle !
Title: Do I need To wash My hands After Holding A Worm ?
Post by: Carolyn on 05/03/2007 23:53:37
I too ALWAYS wash my hands after stroking any animal, including some  humans I know.  Gawddd, public restrooms are the worst!  I wont touch the door handle after I've washed my hands..yeuck..cooties!
Title: Do I need To wash My hands After Holding A Worm ?
Post by: BillJx on 08/03/2007 22:38:43
When my daughter was little, we were working in the garden and she said "Worms stick to your lips."  Huh??  There she was, with a worm dangling from her mouth.  "When you kiss them, they stick to your lips."

So now you know!
Title: Do I need To wash My hands After Holding A Worm ?
Post by: Mjhavok on 20/03/2007 02:38:25
Go Nematodes go.
Title: Do I need To wash My hands After Holding A Worm ?
Post by: neilep on 20/03/2007 18:59:22
When my daughter was little, we were working in the garden and she said "Worms stick to your lips."  Huh??  There she was, with a worm dangling from her mouth.  "When you kiss them, they stick to your lips."

So now you know!

LOL..does she love spaghetti ?
Title: Do I need To wash My hands After Holding A Worm ?
Post by: neilep on 20/03/2007 18:59:58
Go Nematodes go.

I second that !!..YAYYYYYYYYYY !!!
Title: Do I need To wash My hands After Holding A Worm ?
Post by: Karen W. on 22/03/2007 01:39:30
My sister threw one at me and hit me in the mouth when I was about 10 or twelve, maybe older, I imediately got sick and hurled everywhere.. It was truely a discusting scene.... Tomatoe soup and crackers revisited LOL Sorry!!!!
Title: Do I need To wash My hands After Holding A Worm ?
Post by: Infamous on 22/03/2007 01:53:03
If those of you folks that shy away from worms ever go fishing with me, don't expect me to bate your hooks. Speaking of fishing, carp is really a pretty nasty tasting fish. Nevertheless, a friend gave me some advice about cooking this fish the other day. He said; Place the carp on a board and cook it in the oven for 45 minutes. Once the time has expired, take the fish out of the oven, through it away and eat the board.

.............................Infy
Title: Do I need To wash My hands After Holding A Worm ?
Post by: Karen W. on 22/03/2007 02:40:02
I eat very little fish and don't fish! when I did I used canned pink eggs , whatever those were, LOL! I always caught the fish but never ate it! My mom and the other kids loved fish!
Title: Do I need To wash My hands After Holding A Worm ?
Post by: Karen W. on 28/09/2007 17:31:51
It's probably a good idea to wash your hands, but I wonder how important it is in the grand scheme of things. Presumably you are worried about picking up some infection/ parasite/ whatever from the worm. People are really quite different from worms- any parasite which has evolved to thrive in a worm will probably not be well adapted to survive in you. I suspect people are more likely to pick up parasites from other mammals- do you wash your hands after stroking dogs and cats? and more likely still to get them from other humans- a good excuse to give up on public transport.

THANK YOU BC.

I appreciate your wisdom here.

I do in fact wash my hands after stroking dogs and cats.......and I do my level best to NOT touch the stupid handle on the inside of public toilets to get out....cos half the filthy miscreants don't wash their hands at all !....sorry....didn't mean to digress but I just hate it when I have washed and dried my hands that I then have to touch a filthy disgusting door handle !.......i usually use my sleeve or pull it from the ultra bottom of the handle !

BTW Neily The rule of thumb in a preschool or any institution or home and you should try is too:

Alright tidy up your backside with toilet paper and boudai(sorry spelling) with one hand ..LOL use the opposite to flush, use it again to turn on the water. Then wash both hands thoroughly, leaving the water running, get your paper towel dry hands, unless it id air dry then turn the water off. Paper towel your hands dry and use your paper towel to turn off the water and to open the door..cans are usually placed by door. Throw away towel and walk out not soiling your hands or clothing again!
Title: Do I need To wash My hands After Holding A Worm ?
Post by: JimBob on 29/09/2007 03:40:21
I have actually eaten fried worms - that is not as bad as some might think.

I didn't die and rather enjoyed them.

(I know, I am a very sick human being. No need to remind me. Sadly, I am probably more painfully aware of my shortcomings than anyone else.  [V])
Title: Do I need To wash My hands After Holding A Worm ?
Post by: Karen W. on 30/09/2007 04:51:40
I have actually eaten fried worms - that is not as bad as some might think.

I didn't die and rather enjoyed them.

(I know, I am a very sick human being. No need to remind me. Sadly, I am probably more painfully aware of my shortcomings than anyone else.  [V])

I think I am in the same department! Do you mean regular earth worms fried??
with sauce or without Jimbob! Did you bread them?

What were the circumstances behind eating the worms? Curiosity, necessity, a dare or just a learning experience?






Title: Do I need To wash My hands After Holding A Worm ?
Post by: kdlynn on 01/10/2007 04:20:14
what did they taste like?
Title: Do I need To wash My hands After Holding A Worm ?
Post by: Karen W. on 01/10/2007 05:49:27
Ditto kadies reply!