I snapped at a stranger.

[DollyDaydream70]

I work for the nhs and currently I'm asked to show my ID every time I enter the hospital. Yesterday morning I was entering the building, hot, bothered and distracted (for many reasons, life is tough atm). I took a face covering from the box at the entrance and then heard the MASSIVE burly security guard bark what I thought was "HYGIENE!", I said "pardon?" and again he stated (what I thought was) "HYGIENE!!" (this guy had a strong accent and an aggressive manner). I was confused and flustered because there was a queue of workers growing behind me, then I noticed the sanitiser gel and assumed that he wanted me to gel my hands. I squirted my hands with gel and grumbled to the woman next to me that the gel doesn't do anything as it doesn't protect against viruses... I then walked away, slightly shaken at the guard's abrupt manner. As I was entering the lift to go up to my floor, the woman who had been stood behind me came walking past, she waited for me to step into the lift and shouted "HE WAS ASKING FOR YOUR ID!!!" I was so taken aback that this woman shouted at me, that I pressed the 'open door' button and stepped back out and shouted back to her "NO HE WASN'T, HE WAS SAYING HYGIENE!", she shouted something back to me which I didn't hear and that was that. As my day progressed I realised that the woman was right and that the guy was probably saying "ID" (as I had forgotten to show it) and I hadn't understood because of his accent. Now I can't stop thinking about it, I feel like I made a fool of myself. The security guard probably thought I ignored his request on purpose, everyone in the queue will have thought I was rude and purposely didn't compy with the request, and the shouty woman just thinks I'm an ignorant idiot (though why she didn't tell me what he was saying when she was stood next to me, and instead chose to shout at me as I entered the lift, I don't know? She could have solved the problem there and then.). I wish I could go and explain to everyone that I didn't understand what the guy was saying, it's eating me up. Now I'm planning to walk the long way round to work as I'm embarrassed to see any of these people again. I know I'm obsessing and everyone else involved will have forgotten about it, but I'm such a stress head and it's making me feel so bad :-(

Whoops! Sorry for my lack of paragraphs, I meant to edit before I posted and forgot!

Don't worry about it, his manner was off and his accent was strong. These things happen.

TBH I wouldn’t give it too much thought. Most people don’t respond well to barked instructions anyway. I certainly don’t, I tend to freeze and panic in that sort of situation. It’s not like you were spoken to calmly with someone making eye contact before addressing you.

Misunderstanding someone isn’t a sin, whether they have a non-native accent (like I do) or not.

Also, that woman was a nutter. Who walks around shouting at people after the fact?

Snapped and farted?

I would be more embarrassed that as an NHS worker I am grumbling inaccurate information to people about the hand gel. It’s an enveloped virus. The alcohol gel destroys the lipid bilayer of the envelope. So it is very effective against this type of virus.

Prob more forgiving not to have complied with ID than not to sanitize your hands at the min! He didn't come rushing after you to stop you either so you must not look too dodgy! Let yourself off this one...I was waiting to hear that you told the shouty girl at the lift to 'FO'... not that you would, or I would eithet, but all in all I don't think it ranks way up there. Don't stress & msybe say it to the security guard if you see him again that you were rushed & misheard. If it matters to anyone otger than you, it is him. And he prob recognised you as an employee or he would presumably have stopped you but he was just going thro the checkpoint motions!

Sorry for mistakes...on ph & teency screen

Well it all sounds very dramatic for a simple misunderstanding what with people 'barking' and shouting.

Try not to give it any more thought.

And as for planning to walk the long way round, that's just silly. Do you honestly think anyone's going to remember, notice or care considering the amount of people going in and out of that building?

I am a bit deaf. I do this all the time as I struggle to hear people through mssks

Do you this this security guard has been stressing about being rude and barking orders at you?

Just a quick note to those who have made an issue about hand sanitiser. Once inside the hospital we are told that hand sanitiser is not protection enough for Covid-19. I am a ward based Phlebotomist and have to wash my hands with soap and water between every patient for 20 seconds. There's currently no hand gel available on the wards, not one single bottle. When I asked about this (as I sometimes used to gel my hands after washing for extra protection!) I was told by infection control (no less!) that the hand gel is not effective against Covid-19 and therefore to carry on washing my hands with soap and water. Which is what I do, at least 50 times per day!

Soap and water is more effective. The alcohol gel still works well. I’m a microbiology lecturer and my research group works on antimicrobials.

@WorraLiberty I know I'm being daft, my sensible brain keeps telling my stress head brain to shut up! I have a tendency to catastrophise when I'm stressed, which I am atm... thanks for your logical comment though.

@Zippy1510 point taken, and I did gel when (I thought I was) told to. My grumble to the other staff member was just reiterating the information that infection control had supplied me with when I quizzed them on the ward about the lack of hand gel. We used to carry sanitiser on our Phlebotomy trolleys, we've now been told we can't have any because it's not as effective as hand washing. I thought we would still be allowed to have it for when we are on corridors etc and don't have access to hand washing facilities, but no, we are told it is not effective protection against Covid-19.

@gandalf456 Yes, you're right, the barrier of a mask doesn't help either!

@GreyGardens88 I have no idea what your comment meant.... but I also love Grey Gardens, just so you know! Staunch!!

They said masks didn't work, either. That advice changed when there were no more shortages! Don't listen to them and bring in your own until they get some

Perhaps it's time for a hearing test, granted the first person had an accent but you also didn't understand what the second person said. Presumably, they were both wearing masks, have you possibly become more reliant on lip-reading of late.

I shocked at your reluctance to use hand-sanitiser immediately upon entering the hospital, this is just the fastest way to protect yourself and others at entry points to the hospital, can you imagine how long the queue would be if each person had to wash and dry their hands at this "choke" point.

If you encounter this security man again, just make a nice apology, forget about everyone else, they have already forgotten about you.

When you are going in to the hospital, picture the point of going through the door and make a mental list of 3 things - ID, Sanitizer, Mask - in whatever order works best for the doorman

And breathe, it's a stressful time for everyone but you didn't intend any harm

I'm wondering if the 'hand gel' thing is that a lot of hospitals don't use alcohol based gel (due to misuse).

Other than that, try not to worry. When you are in his position you need to take care to communicate more clearly. When you have an accent (as I do) it really does mean you have to make even more effort to use other ways to communicate (especially if wearing a mask).

Stupid cow at the elevator was unreasonable. Like that's going to help
🙄

Honestly, just try to forget about it.

Thank you for doing the job you do! Look after yourself 🌷

It's probably to stop people just using that rather than taking the time for proper hand washing.

Oh don't worry about it, lovely. It's actually fine.

You know, I am a bit hard of hearing so have bonkers, embarassing conversations about 20 times a day. You just HAVE to get over it and have a laugh. Imagine how my job interviews go? Oh it's a car crash.

You won't even be the the first person who has misunderstood him today. Promise.

@gandalf456 Good point. We were told only around 3 or 4 weeks ago that we now have to wear masks at all times from entering the hospital to leaving (unless eating or drinking of course). This was after all those weeks of only having to wear them when dealing with Covid-19 patients. It's difficult to know what to trust and believe isn't it?

@kojolo and @IncrediblySadToo Thank you so much. I knew when posting my story that there would be people who would pick holes in it and try to make me feel worse than I already do, that's Mumsnet for you! Your comments have made me feel so much better, I hope you both have a lovely day and that the universe returns your kindness :-)

If you put yourself in the security guards position for a minute though, it must be frustrating for him to have to ask people for ID when they know they have to show it every time they enter the building. You should've had it ready as a matter of course.

Also, there's a possibility the woman behind you was frustrated too at the fact you had to be asked to show it and you just may have come across as a bit arrogant to moan about the hand sanitiser, given that everyone has to use it.

Really, none of it should've been an issue. Show ID, take mask, use hand gel, through the door to work.