Protect Yourself Against Coronavirus When You Pump Gas

Despite social distancing and working from home, some of us still need to commute by car, or drive to places for food, medicine, and other supplies.

The occasional trip to the gas station is unavoidable, as is touching the pump handle and payment keypad. Pump handles and credit card keypads, which are high-touch areas, could have the virus present, which experts say can stay alive for hours or even days on hard surfaces.

Your best protection is to wash your hands on a regular basis and to refrain from touching your face with unwashed hands. But there are a few things you can do that will help you stay safe when you have to pump gas.

• Having disinfectant wipes handy for wiping down the gas pump handle and the payment keypad before pumping.
• If you have latex disposable gloves, keep them in your car to use when gripping the pump handle.  Short of that, you can try to use paper towels that are sometimes available at the pump or have some with you to cover your hands when you grip the handle.
• Do the same to isolate yourself from the keypad when entering payment information.
• Turn the gloves inside-out and throw them away, and any paper towels you might have used. Use hand sanitizer to make sure your hands are clean when finished and before you get back into your car.

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