[MR] Fighter Sanitation re: Waterbearing

[chagankhulan at clan-whitewing.org]

Okay - I've read this post and the jokes that followed.  While I'm not one
to over-react I sure don't want someone elses spit in my drink.  A number
of groups and households have adopted a "Don't take water/gatorade from
anyone but your own household".  That's been successful so far.  I agree
that "squirting" is much preferred over sharing straws or bottles.
Aside from the waterbeareres syaing - "Squirt, don't suck" before handing
each fighter the bottle there isn't much you can do except remove the
bottle for sanitizing as soon as the first poor over-heated, non-thinking
fighter grabs it in his teeth and downs the contents.  A less risky but
much more expensive solution would be to have 8 oz bottles of water in a
bag and hand each one to whoever wants water then throw it away.

  I guess we'll just have to wait and see what works for folks.

Chagan


> Greetings to the lists from Gisela in Sacred Stone,
>
> Given the discussion on the Merry Rose and so many other venues of the
> SCA about the change to the Waterbearing Offices and Guilds in the
> Society, I wanted to mention an experience I had this weekend.
>
> I occasionally help with waterbearing at events. In the last two weeks
> I've been to two events in the East where I helped and both were
> incredibly hot days.
>
> At one event, not a single fighter who took drink from my hand placed
> the straw or mouth of the bottle in their own mouths with one exception
> . . . a new fighter who was corrected by everyone with him.
>
> "Don't do that! Squirt, don't suck, dude. I don't want to drink your
> backwash!"
>
> Another added, "And what misses and runs down your face and neck will
> cool you the h3!! down."
>
> And another added ominously, "Besides, Raven'll kill you if she catches
> you." (Raven is the head of the Waterbearers' Guild in the East. Think
> Morwenna only shorter and Italian. Bulldog instead of Doberman. Just as
> serious with just as many teeth.)
>
> At the next event, three different fighters, all experienced fighters,
> popped the straw or pop-top right into their mouths to drink. Done
> before I had a chance to say anything. Hadn't thought I'd need to watch
> whitebelts, for goshsake. Each time I took the nearly full water
> bottles off the field and it took longer for others to get drinks
> because of the thoughtless (not malicious, just not thinking) actions
> of these gentlemen.
>
> Raven uses a system similar to what you'd find in a bar or restaurant,
> setting up tubs with sanitizer tablets, cleaning bottles and caps
> between uses regardless. I know Morwenna's procedures are also
> stringent and that she teaches those waterbearers who work with her to
> not reuse a bottle that's been in someone's mouth. Ask her about the
> 8-year-old who dressed down a knight for putting lips to bottle someday.
>
> Still, in this day of incredibly dangerous contagions and food-born
> bacteria that resist all medical treatment, why do some folks still
> think it's ok to have contact while drinking from a common container?
>
> Please, folks, make an effort to break yourself of this habit if you
> have it. Encourage others to change their habits. If you have no
> concern for your own health, consider others' . . . and consider the
> efforts of those bringing refreshment to you and the extra steps you
> cause them when they're performing their service conscientiously.
>
> Be well, play hard, drink often and Squirt, dude!
>
> ~gise
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