Where did I say to not wash your hands? I just stated that regardless of how many times you wash your hands, the snake will still be in feeding mode.

Also, if you don't put them in a feeding bin, where are they going to eat? On the floor where young children may play later? That rat could burst, urinate or defecate on the carpet(regardless of if it is dead or not), and there will be salmonella/e.coli on the carpet. Can someone say "Ick"?

I agree with the use of long feeding tongs(12"+). You can use hemostats, grilling tongs, or just very large tweezers. If you want to go cheap You can go to WalMart and get some fishhook removers. They look like alligator forceps, about a foot long and cost $4. They worked great for me until I finally got some hemostats.

It is true that two people may be present, but one of those people has no snake experience whatsoever. She may not know what to do if the snake latched onto Mike. Even though it is only a 4.5'-5' boa, when it is feeding time, they don't play.

As for food, I would go with a smaller rat. First, they are easier to kill, and second, it will be a little bit easier on the owner's budget if the snake decides not to eat. Especially if the snake won't eat prey that has been frozen, and the rat just has to be thrown away.