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If your medicine fell on the floor, would you still take it?
@beautyqueen26 (16030)
United States
August 17, 2007 10:38pm CST
The other day when I had a headache, I searched through every cabinet and box in the kitchen until I found one lonely Tylenol pill. And, wouldn't you know it, just as I was about to take my medicine to banish my throbbing head ache, my toddler ran into the kitchen and bumped into me, sending my Tylenol to the floor and under the edge of the counter.
So, then I had a quandry. Do I pick up the pill and wash it off and take it anyway? Or, pretend that others were around to see me and bow to some sort of society pressure that prevents one from eating off the floor, even during a dire emergency. In the end, I evoked the ages old "five second" rule that says something isn't dirty, even if it falls on the floor if you pick it up within five seconds.
Needless to say, I ignored the invisible crowd and scooped up the Tylenol. If you had my head aches, you would have done the same thing as well. That's not the kind of pain you can live with.
So, what would you do if you were in pain, and your only pain pill fell in the floor or in the sink? Would you throw it out and continue to suffer? Or, would you scoop it up, wash it off and get the relief you needed? Which would be worse, suffering from the pain or the germs from the floor?
4 people like this
25 responses
@maddysmommy (16230)
• United States
18 Aug 07
LOL I would pick it up for sure if it was my last one and I had no way of getting to the store to buy more. My floor in the kitchen is usually clean and I vacuum at least once every second day so thats my excuse. Pills are not cheap nowadays LOL
1 person likes this
@beautyqueen26 (16030)
• United States
18 Aug 07
That's why I usually feel pretty safe about picking up something off the floor. Five second rule would not have applied four years ago, before the baby came along. I was not the best house cleaner then. Now, I am constantly cleaning for her sake. It's worth it though.
@craftcatcher (3699)
• United States
18 Aug 07
When I hurt, germs are the last thing on my mind. I'll rinse it off and down my throat it goes. I've survived so far so I guess my floor isn't that dirty. :D
1 person likes this
@beautyqueen26 (16030)
• United States
18 Aug 07
Yes, that was my feeling exactly! That stupid headache lasted nine hours, even a tiny ounce of relief was worth it for me. I would have happily gotten a cold if it meant that headache would go away. Besides I think I am pretty much immune to my kitchen germs by now. They haven't killed me so far. Fingers crossed. LOL!
@Darkhorse1311 (418)
• India
19 Aug 07
Yes I always take it..besides all pills have protective layer around them so not a problem for me.
@jcj_111776 (3216)
• Philippines
21 Aug 07
I'd do the same thing you did. I don't care how many germs have attached to it already as long as my headache stops. When my headache strikes too, I feel nauseated. So, a few germs won't stop me from taking that medicine. There's a joke about that 5 second. It said when something falls to the floor, a food or something edible, all we have are 5 precious seconds. Why? Because when that something fell to the floor, all the germs were shocked to immobility!To have something so huge fall on top of them. And after 5 seconds, they recover from that shock and grab on to that something. So that's why the 5 second myth was born.
@MonAmb (126)
•
19 Aug 07
Well, if i was in much pain like you was, i would definately pick the medicine needed up off the floor. I don't see how a few germs can harm you when you have a load of good bacteria and medicines going into you from the pill. I like the use of the '5 second rule' i haven't heard that one since school! It would be worse to be hurt by the pain than swallowing a bit of bad bacteria that would probably be destroyed as soon as it goes into your mouth. The human body is not weak!
@violeta_va (4831)
• Australia
19 Aug 07
I would take it if its a tablet I draw the line at licking liquid meds of the floor. why wash it that way you are loosing valuable amount of it I would just wipe it an take it. This is if it fell at home but if its some place else I would not take it I would put it in the bin as I dont know how clean the floor is.
@Foxxee (3651)
• United States
19 Aug 07
I would of just picked it up if it was in my house because I know my foors are clean. LOL!
If it fell on the bathroom floor, then that might actually be another story. I would probably wash it off first.
But if it was in my liviing room or kitchen, I would just pick it up and take it. No big deal. :)
@seabeauty (1480)
• United States
18 Aug 07
I would either blow the dirt off the pill or rinse it off under water then take it.
@carlaabt (3504)
• United States
18 Aug 07
I don't take any pain medicines unless the pain is really bad. A headache has to be messing with my vision to warrant taking tylenol for me, because I hate the idea of being chemically dependent, even slightly.
So if I had a headache that was that bad (I get them that bad about once a month), I would go ahead and take the pill. I do tend to drop them if I am the one getting them out of the bottle when I really need them, so usually I have my husband to get them for me. If I drop one, I just pick it up and take it without really thinking about it, though.
My thoughts are that if I can live in this house, and breathe in those germs all the time, it would probably be safe to eat something that I drop. I keep my floors clean, because my 18 month old eats off them any chance he gets. It doesn't make him sick, so I'm sure it won't make me sick considering how much bigger I am than he is!
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
19 Aug 07
Forget about the germs!!! I will deal with them later, but when I have a headache I want that pill!!!
My house is reasonably clean and I'm sure I'm not more exposed to germs as in any other place so I'll pick it up and take it, believe me :)
Think about it this way; YOu know those apples you bought in the supermarket? WHo knows if that specific one that you're taking to eat know fell down and was put back with the others? The lettuce you're going to use for your salad might have been touched by a huge amount of people ( colds, cuts, or just plain dirty hands ) so you know what .. that tylenol is ok, believe me, pick it up, take it and hope that it's enough for that headache :)
@andrejuly84 (1047)
• Romania
18 Aug 07
if it is a pilul certainly i stil take it.there's no reason for me to don't take it.
@Ricko82 (584)
• Philippines
19 Aug 07
Some people might disagree with me on this, but I'd say you can still take your pill that fell on the floor. But if and only if you are absolutely sure that it feel in a "clean" ground. What is clean for you may not be clean for me, but you judge, you would know really if that pill is still fit for consumption. However, if you have plenty more and that pill don't cost to much a piece, I think it's best that you just take another to have.
@smartbrain69 (2790)
• Canada
18 Aug 07
I don't mind taking it but before that i want to know its expire date.
@KrisNY (7590)
• United States
18 Aug 07
Easy! If it's the only one left- I take it-- If I'm at home I always pick it up- blow it off- and take it! I have dropped birth control a few times at home- then I'm searching on the floor for it- You can't miss a day there- and when I have a bad headache- sometimes my hands get clumsy and the pill pops out- I blow it off- no harm no foul!
@bluishrose (2289)
• Philippines
18 Aug 07
I stil pick up my pill when it fell on the floor as long as it fells on a dry surface. But medicines are easy to brush off the dirt. I think its no harm when you still take it.
@nikkiwith (1074)
• Australia
18 Aug 07
No "biggy", pick it up and brush it off. What doesn't kill us makes us stronger.
@3lilangels (4639)
• United States
18 Aug 07
when your pain is that bad,i think we will do alot of things to try to prevent it from getting worse,so with out a doubt i would pick up that pill just like you did,and took it right away.
@tito4puchu (61)
• India
18 Aug 07
Yes I would take the medicine even if it falls on the floor if it is a pill. Ofcourse I cant take it if it is liquid. A pill doesnt get much dirty even if it falls on the floor if we consider costs of medicines and the effect it would create after taking.
