FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
(and other details you didn’t know you wanted to know)
WHAT IS THIS DEVICE AND HOW IS IT SUPPOSED TO HELP ME?
- We at NONTACT® developed this innovative Grasping Mitt in direct response to the global onset of COVID-19; we needed a novel form of everyday, user-friendly “Personal Protective Equipment” (PPE) that reduces the need to touch potentially COVID-contaminated surfaces such as door handles, safety rails, gas pumps, payment terminals, etc…while also preventing cross-contamination, or transfer of contaminants (e.g., from mitt to phone to face) by “self-quarantining” its exposed areas
- Not having to expose your hands/skin/clothes to contaminated surfaces means less unintended transfer of contaminants to your face, thereby reducing the spread of COVID-19 (CDC) or any other communicable diseases
- NONTACT gives you the confidence to lose touch with germaphobia-driven stress & anxiety…so you can more freely live your life (even go back into the office) in a pandemic, while contributing to the solution and not the problem
- Finally, even CDC emphasizes the risks of hand contamination:
WHY SHOULD I TRUST YOU GUYS TO HELP WITH THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC?
- NONTACT was founded by a Life Sciences expert and diehard science advocate who specializes in developing innovative health products: All product claims and benefits are supported by science and reputable health expertise (e.g., dedicated CDC page on COVID-19)
- We have engaged with academic and federal health experts to investigate both physical and mental health benefits for users
- Additionally, we are in frequent communication with health & safety organizations like NSC, AIHA and OHS to validate and raise awareness around the need for more effective hand protection
HOW DOES THIS THING ACTUALLY WORK?
- Slipping on NONTACT right before grasping public/unknown, high-touch surfaces insulates your hands from microbial contaminants (such as the virus that causes COVID-19), which could then enter your body when you touch your face (CDC)
- After using then slipping off your mitt, its patent-pending magnetic locking mechanism “self-quarantines” (i.e. seals away) the grasping side…where the contaminants stay put
- Then you can cleanly & confidently stick the mitt in your bag or pocket until the next use, without fear of the microbes transferring onto personal areas (like the inside of your bag or pocket); alternatively you can keep it at the ready via built-in keychain tab, to connect it to your keys, carabiner, retractable lanyard, etc.
CAN THIS PRODUCT REALLY REDUCE THE RISK OF CATCHING COVID-19?
- Whereas masks are essential to protect from respiratory (most prevalent) spread, NONTACT protects from contaminated surfaces or “fomite” spread (the reason handwashing is so heavily encouraged)
- NONTACT serves as a supplementary safeguard, especially when handwashing or sanitizing facilities are not available; we recommend combined use with other, conventional prevention tactics like social distancing and reduced mobility
- Please note that using NONTACT is NOT a substitute for washing your hands in keeping with official health guidance
ARE PUBLIC SURFACES LIKE DOOR HANDLES, ETC. REALLY THAT HIGH-RISK?
- CDC considers door handles, etc. “high-touch surfaces” that need to be disinfected regularly; in public, high traffic areas (buses, grocery stores, doctor’s offices), even constant disinfection may not be frequent enough to match the flow of people
- COVID-19 can live and spread on most surfaces for hours, days (NIH) or even weeks (J.Virology); this increases the chance of picking up COVID-19 from any unknown surface, especially the high-touch kind
- While some argue that the amount of virus found on a contaminated surface is too low, there is very little known about the amount needed (“infectious dose”) to cause fomite spread; consider that COVID-19 aerosols (i.e. sub-microscopic particles) are believed to comprise an infectious dose
WHERE WOULD HAVING NONTACT HELP?
Even during a pandemic, most people must leave their house for essential tasks; wearing a face mask is a great start, but it’s simply not possible to avoid touching ANY public surfaces: Door handles (especially if your thumb is needed, e.g., doorknobs), safety rails, elevator buttons, bus/train hand-holds, ride-share car doors, groceries/produce, gas pumps, ATMs & card payment number pads (even touch screens), signing payment receipts or for packages…and anything communal in school or workplace bathrooms/commons (the Founder’s mom loves using it to open jars haha #donttrythisathome)….and long after we #shutdown COVID-19, you can keep using NONTACT to avoid the flu, common cold, and future pandemics.
IF I’M USING NONTACT, DO I STILL NEED TO WASH/SANITIZE MY HANDS?
YES! It is always smart to wash/sanitize your hands as advised by health officials; NONTACT serves as an additional safeguard, releasing you from frantically chasing down a restroom sink after every encounter with a sketchy doorknob.
AM I ACTUALLY SPREADING GERMS BY USING NONTACT FROM SURFACE TO SURFACE?
- ANY contaminated surface (especially bare hands) can go on to contaminate other surfaces; but NONTACT is made from silicone, which is relatively resistant to microbial growth and therefore reduces potential spread compared to skin
- In fact, there is published science on the virus-killing boost that silicone adds to the common disinfectant titanium dioxide – which is what gives NONTACT its white color
- Bonus update: We are developing a version of NONTACT made from “antimicrobial” silicone; but keeping it 100%, this just means microbes (like viruses) don’t live quite as long on the surface; don’t be misled by products touting their antimicrobial properties (e.g., doesn’t work like an alcohol wipe!).
HOW IS THIS DIFFERENT FROM OTHER HAND-PROTECTING PRODUCTS OUT THERE?
- NONTACT does more than protect you from contaminated surfaces; its unique design self-quarantines the grasping side that come in direct contact with those surfaces…something to think about next time you put the tissue/glove/key/no-contact-hook back in your pocket after using them to open a door!
- While many existing solutions fall short against more complex actions like turning a doorknob or pumping gas, the mitt is basically an extension of your hand; you can even use it on your smartphone’s touch screen (though that would defeat its purpose of preventing cross-contamination)
- Unlike single-use options such as latex/nitrile gloves, NONTACT is eco-friendly and sustainable: You can easily wash it (by hand or in the dishwasher) and reuse as many times as you want
- As for keeping a bottle of hand sanitizer on-hand…skin damage aside, can you even find (legit) hand sanitizer during a pandemic??
SO NOW I HAVE TO CARRY AROUND A NEW ACCESSORY ALONG WITH MY PHONE, KEYS AND BAG/WALLET?
NONTACT is very compact, and it compresses & contorts to fit easily on in your pocket with your keys – to which you can easily attach via keychain tab; so in a sense you’d just be adding to your existing keychain
DOES USING NONTACT MAKE THAT MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE COMPARED TO GLOVES? OR A TISSUE, OR MY SHIRT?
- It’s ALL about preventing cross-contamination. Once you expose anything hand-insulating like gloves or your shirt to a contaminated surface, they can then cross-contaminate to your hands/phone/face/etc…NONTACT self-quarantines its exposed area to halt that chain of cross-contamination
- You probably don’t want to be carrying around (and using/discarding) boxes of single-use gloves or tissues every time you leave your home…NONTACT was created with global sustainability in mind, making it fully reusable to eliminate such waste
DOES IT MAKE A GOOD GIFT?
- Yep…know any proud germaphobes? or people who would rather not touch remnant fecal matter in public restroom stalls?
- Also Yep for the vast majority of hand sizes…just dial up/down the number of fingers needed to wear it snugly
- We are also working on channels for donating products to those in need – see our “What’s New?” page (coming soon)
I’M INTO THIS AND I WANNA MAKE FRIENDS WITH IT, FEEL ME?
Thanks! We are always open to constructive ideas and collaboration for the greater good (except please refrain from hoarding/scalping or selling copycats – because Golden Rule and patent pending, respectively): Feel free to reach out here or find us on social
#feelfree
#tactiledistancing
#preventionissexy
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