A few years ago as Lyle and I disembarked
from a flight I saw a fellow passenger wiping down the handle of her white
cane. This was something I had never thought of doing but I think that this
passenger was likely just ahead of her time.
I spoke with the woman as we were waiting for our luggage and commented
on her action.
She said, “Have you ever noticed how many
people touch your cane when you come through security ... and that’s probably
only the half of it!”
Since that time, I have noticed exactly
that. It starts when I place my cane in the bin to pass through security at the
airport. These are the bins that are used by every passenger as they place
luggage, jackets, and other personal paraphernalia in the bins – bins that are
used over and over again all day long. I wonder if they are ever cleaned,
disinfected or sanitized.
Often as I come through the screening
process an agent will reach out a hand to guide me through or perhaps hand my
cane to me. Sometimes an agent will pick up my cane to examine it. How many
other hands has the agent touched with those gloved hands and now those same hands
are on the handle of my cane?
Lyle and I are flying again tonight and I
have my hand sanitizer in my back pack – along with some wipes to clean my cane
handle. I will also wipe down the seat buckle on the plane, the meal tray and
the door handle of the washroom. Of course we are hoping that if other
passengers aren’t feeling well, they will simply stay at home, but in the
meantime we are taking our own precautions, saying a little prayer and hoping
for a safe and healthy time away from home.
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