I
see that you are getting zapped with static electricity.
You can do a few things:
For static problems inside your
house, buy a humidifier to add water vapor to the air (not a
DE-humidifier, which takes moisture out of the air. You wouldn't
believe the number of people who get those two things confused.)
You can get a plug-in-the-wall humidifier (which you need to fill
with water every few days), or you can get a humidifier that
attaches to the furnace.
Try different shoes. I know this
sounds silly, but the material on your feet can interact with the
material in your carpet (usually nylon) to produce extra-large
static charges as you walk. Some plastics are worse than others,
and natural rubber can make big static charges too, I think.
Replace the carpets. This is not
a very easy option, especially at the office, so I don't recommend
it.
Are you married? If not, get
married, or at least engaged. Okay, just get a ring, as long
as it's a metal ring (what else is there, plastic?). Try this:
before you touch the door knob (a common jolt point) touch the
metal knob with your ring. By making the first contact with a
piece of metal, you usually won't feel the static discharge. I do
this with my car keys when I get into my truck, and the keys get
shocked, not me.
Some people are more prone to
static shocks than others. Maybe some people have better
conductivity because they have more electrolytes in their
bloodstream.
You could also stick a piece of
metal chain in your shoe and let it drag on the floor. Supposedly
they used to require gasoline tankers to drag a steel chain behind
the truck to keep static charges from building up. Really, I'm
being a wise-guy, but perhaps you can find some carpet runners or
anti-static mats. Look at office supply stores.
If your doctor has some remedy,
I'd be interested in hearing about it. I've never heard about any
medical solution for static discharge, although some people have
an overly electrifying personality!
Bruce W. Maki, Editor.
