Scared of going on train.

[TheoriginalLEM]

I have to, as of tomorrow, attend something for work that means I have to take a 2 hour return train journey at peak time. I'm the main carer for my elderly, immuno compromised mother, so limiting contact isn't an option although she has professional carers during the day.

I really don't want to go but not going will scupper a qualification that I need to continue my job and I'm in the last 3minths of the 3rd year.

What can I do? My anxiety is threatening to go overboard here

I should say that I need to do this once weekly for 7 weeks

I’m still taking trains every day. I don’t eat or drink on the train, use hand gel as soon as I get off and wash my hands with soap and water at the earliest opportunity after that.

The hardest thing for me has been being conscious of not touching my face. I do it so much without really thinking but am getting better at not doing it, by keeping my hands occupied by holding a book or something.

Good advice about not eating/drinking I would have likely been munching all journey

Travel earlier and later (off peak tickets are cheaper, which is a separate benefit). Yes it makes for a hideously long day, but it should give you more space.

Think about options for driving - if you don't run a car, you could perhaps hire? However you do not know who will have touched what, so wipe surfaces, consider wearing gloves (which can be washed after, and might help you keep your hands off your face, and remember to handwash properly and frequently (and carry gel for where there are no sinks)

You must already have excellent hygiene, as a carer for your mother. If you can use hand sanitiser after you leave the station and wash your hands at your earliest opportunity. Hope that the people with coughs catch it in a fresh tissue and chuck it away. There isn't much else you can do really.

I catch a train daily and manage to do it without touching any surfaces. Wear gloves and don’t touch anything. Don’t stand up until the train comes to a stop - they always leave enough time for you to get to the doors to exit - sit near an exit if you’re worried about that.

Would be good if I could find hand sanitiser! The selfish b*** who have stock piled it and wiped the shelves clean, then the companies who have pushed the price up online!!

Best thing the government could do is to criminalise profit making from sanitising gel and enable a huge increase in production. Along with all the other precautions and the cost involved it would be a pittance. Also shops should limit sales to maybe 3 bottles per customer.
I use gloves but they are leather which can’t be washed. Trying to think of a material which could be washed on a reasonably hot wash. All these precautions might reduce the spread of other things like flu, stomach bugs and colds which could help the economy.

Fleece gloves are cheap enough to have a few pairs can be washed more easily than woollen ones. Or you could go for disposable latex type ones.

Think about whether you need to use your phone during the journey, if you’ve been holding hand rails etc, it might be better to leave your phone in your pocket until you’ve been able to wash your hands,

I commute into London during rush hour for work. I am not feeling anxious, but I am taking precautions. I don't touch anything and keep my bag on my lap rather than putting it on the floor. I wash my hands when I arrive at work and again when I get home from work.

I have to do similar tomorrow op. Having previously been very much in the Keep Calm and Carry On camp, I'm now feeling distinctly nervous. As with pp, I don't know how I'm going to stop myself from touching my face. Hoping that wearing gloves will act as a deterrent.

The sort of gloves sold by places like Sports Direct for runners are both cheap and washable

Agree gloves, no eating, and wash hands asap. Possibly stand near the doors rather than sit in the carriage.

I have to get 4 rammed buses everyday mon-fri. I'm definitely feeling more aware of what I'm touching and am attempting to not touch my face. The problem is, I seem to touch my face and then remember that I shouldn't...

I find I touch my face less often when I wear gloves, but it is easy to forget and move hair off your face etc, without thinking.

Everyone is talking about Hand washing but my worry is if the virus spreads this becomes fairly obsolete the minute anyone coughs or sneezes as the virus is airborne ?

OP I think you will be fine at the moment though as statistically numbers of infections are still low , and you can just keep up excellent hygiene and not cough or sneeze near your mother if ever feel need to do either ! I hold my sneezes in as never like it when people sneeze near me even when there isn’t a virus around

I have hand sanitizer from work so will use this, will take limited stuff and try not to touch anything. 7.30 train gah

They won't be sneezing, unless they are unlucky enough to have a cold at the same time. Sneezing isn't a COVID symptom

If someone coughs, it may settle on surfaces or on the person's hands (if they don't cough into a hanky on a sleeve) which then touch things. So even though you might get it directly airborne, it will continue to find its way on to surfaces. Handwashing will always be an excellent precaution.

Well I've just boarded a train and have lost count of how many times I've touched my hair/face! Hope you are doing okay op.