- Use disposable gloves when handling pump and keypad
- Wash or sanitize hands after refueling
- Utilize phone-payment apps if possible
Across the country, coronavirus containment measures are causing most people to drive much less than they normally would, many of us—at least those who don’t own an electric car or a plug-in hybrid—still have to refuel at least occasionally. With people touching them repeatedly all day long, gas pumps are dirty even under normal circumstances. Now they harbor the specter of disease as well. Is pumping gas a serious threat? And what can you do to keep yourself safe when refueling?
According to the CDC, COVID-19 is able to spread “from person-to-person through respiratory droplets.” However, the virus lives on surfaces, and, “It may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it, and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.” Exercise caution.
Safety in a self-service environment
Gas station attendants are not rushing out to wipe down and disinfect pumps each time someone fills their tank (although that would be nice). Avoiding contact with these repeatedly-touched surfaces is the best way to reduce contact with the virus. That means using disposable plastic or nitrile gloves when squeezing the handle, selecting fuel grade, and interacting with the keypad.
If you have Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, or a similar NFC payment app on your phone, use that rather than a credit card to pay for the fuel. This will minimize your use of the keypad. When the transaction is complete, peel off the gloves and throw them in the trash before grasping your door handle to get back into your car. It’s also not a bad idea to sanitize your hands afterward or wash them with soap and water—healthy practice even in times when our country is not in the grip of a pandemic.
In addition to using these tips to protect yourself, you’ll also find gas prices are dropping rapidly. See more about plummeting prices here.
RELATED: How to Clean Your Car to Reduce the Spread of Coronavirus
