Don's Back! + More Window Cleaning News

Don's back, the King of podcasts! This time talking about using Twitter in Your Business. Not that I've done much with it & looks like Don hasn't figured how to use it to a good advantage yet either. If you want to follow me for any insane reason - just click on the twitter button!

Sean Dolan, the sales guy at Window Cleaning Resource opens up to his first solo episode on sales tips & techniques. "Always strive for the best & that's what your attain."

Remember my post the other day on MRSA? And the subsequent follow up on skin care? Well I couldn't believe the news today! This unfortunate window cleaner had the worse case scenario of MRSA.....

A scratch on the leg has led to the death of a popular amateur rugby league player aged just 31. Dad-of-one, Neil Smith, a former Leigh Miners Rangers and Leigh East ARLFC junior player, had been a promising, pacy winger in his day.The former Lancashire Rugby League youth team player is believed to have died from a heart attack after contracting septicaemia from a scratch on his leg. Leigh East's chairman Keith Latham, who coached eight-year-old Neil at the Miners, said: "We are really devastated about it at the club. It was no age at all, he was only 31 and he was a great lad. "He was an exceptional talent as a youngster and he had outstanding pace. "He was destined for big things, there's no doubt in my mind that he could have gone all the way but, sadly, he went out of the game for his own personal reasons. "He was brought up in that age group where Leigh produced so many talented players. "I kept in touch and I still see his parents – who are some of the nicest people you could meet – now and again and I always ask about Neil."Apparently he'd had this cut on his leg and it turned bad." After a spell at Miners, Neil moved over to Leigh East later on in his junior career.
Window cleaner Neil leaves behind a young son, Bradley, parents Brian and Carole and a sister, Gemma. Boss Tex O'Neil found employee Neil in a poorly condition last Monday after going round to his Higher Folds flat. Mr O'Neil had become concerned after Neil failed to report for work. He was taken to hospital but died a couple of days later. His funeral will be held at noon on Tuesday, December 16, at St Gabriel's Church, Higher Folds and Howe Bridge Crematorium.

Window Cleaner discovers blood-soaked woman found in street, UK: A Window cleaner has spoken of the moment he discovered a blood-soaked woman staggering in the street with serious head injuries. Michael Bolton was first on the scene after Diane Spencer had been allegedly bludgeoned with a claw hammer in Fraser Grove, Hartlepool. He said blood was seeping from wounds to her head and face as she staggered near to her car. And the 35-year-old, who has had a window cleaning round in that area for three-and-a-half years, described the scene as like "something from a horror movie". Michael said he had just been made a cup of tea by one of his customers when he saw Mrs Spencer from about 30 yards away with blood running down her face. "At first I thought she'd knocked her head on the car and I shouted 'are you all right sweetheart?' But she was on a different planet, she couldn't say anything." Dad-of-three Michael told the Mail. "I got within a couple of feet of her and her face was like something out of a horror movie. I phoned 999 straight away. "There was blood everywhere, it was a horrific scene. I keep having flashbacks. I've never seen anyone's face look so bad." While Michael was on the phone to the emergency services an elderly gentleman and a carer sat the woman down and were trying to stem the bleeding. Michael, of Duncan Road, added: "The carer was using wipes but they were turning bright red within seconds of them going on her face because there was so much blood. The poor woman." After just a couple of minutes an ambulance and police turned up at the scene and then a police helicopter arrived and took the woman to the James Cook University Hospital after the attack in Fraser Grove, Hartlepool, at around 10.30am on Saturday. Mrs Spencer's brother Paul Anthony Wallace, 47, has appeared in court charged with attempted murder. Chairman of the bench Sidney Taylor remanded Wallace, of Fraser Grove, in custody and sent the case to Teesside Crown Court.

MRSA & the Window Cleaner

MRSA/Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus was discovered in 1961 in the United Kingdom. It made its first major appearance in the United States in 1981 becoming prevalent among intravenous drug users. MRSA is often referred to in the press as a "superbug."

As the cold and flu season continues to bloom, I find it is necessary to talk about antibiotics and our abusive relationship with them. The use and promotion of antibacterial household products is driven by the fear of getting sick or even just the fear of germs themselves. We should ask each other if this is rational. If we take antibiotics carelessly we can make ourselves more susceptible to illness. Also, we need to know when to take antibiotics as they are not effective in combating a viral infection or one of the fungal varieties. If you were to take an antibiotic for these types of infections, you would not resolve the problem, you would just weaken your body's defenses against another illness. We often hear the term, "Kills 99.9% of bacteria." Well, have you ever wondered about the other .1%? This special portion of the previous population is resistant to the antibiotic material used in the sanitizing substance. These bacteria have been given the informal name of a "Super Bug." Super bugs are multi-resistant bacteria that are resistant to the antibodies that are specifically designed to exterminate said bacteria. These remaining bugs are free to roam and multiply. One type of infection that occurs due to this over exposure or abuse of antibiotics is the Methicillan-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus, or MRSA for short. This infectious strain often rears in hospitals and even schools. According to Medical News Today, in the past decade the rate of MRSA infection related deaths has risen by 1,400 percent. In 2005, approximately 19,000 deaths were linked to MRSA infections and it is estimated that nearly 90,000 people in the United States may be infected by the Super Bug. These rates will only be accelerated as we continue to socially mistreat and over treat our fears of getting sick.
So, this being said, I would like to take this chance to offer some suggestions for maintaining a healthy, bacteria-friendly immune system. The first thing you can do is reduce the amount of antibacterial soap and aerosols you use but continue to use soap for basic hygiene purposes. Secondly, make sure we have properly diagnosed our symptoms so as to not mistreat our infections causing further illnesses. And finally, we need to refrain from the use of antibiotics unless absolutely necessary. In this situation, take the full course of antibiotics in order to kill the malicious bacteria more entirely to prevent the reoccurrence of the infection later on. By following these very broad guidelines, we can maintain healthy, properly functioning and ultimately strengthen, our immune systems.

Hand washing & frequent wetting & drying has now been linked to dermatitis. Increased bacterial count in hands and colonization of antibiotic resistance developing in the hands of workers. Study found that dry nurses' hands were twice as likely to be colonized by bacteria. 58% of healthcare workers are said to be colonized with MRSA. Some bacteria with a genetic pre-disposition to resistance to antibiotic properties will survive. When these resistant bacteria divide, they pass their resistance on, creating entire colonies of antibiotic-resistant bacteria colonized in the healthcare workers hands.

Cuts and cracks in the skin are one of the main entry points for MRSA. The skin’s protective barrier is compromised when the skin is dry, and, as many dry skin sufferers tend to scratch itchy spots, they may have scrapes that, although not visible as a cut, nevertheless leave one exposed to bacteria. Traditional moisturizers mask the dryness by coating the skin, but they do not actually provide the needed moisture or promote healing.
A shielding lotion bonds with the outer layer of the skin to form a protective barrier that locks in the skin’s natural moisture, prevents direct contact with bacteria and other irritants, and thereby heals dry skin. Although skin infections are often mild in themselves, they can spread to the blood causing serious illness. If you have dry skin, protect yourself now with a good shielding lotion.