Handwashing and Public Restrooms-Shocking!

While 92% of adults say they wash their hands in public restrooms observational studies say otherwise. In an observational study of 6,076 adults, sponsored by the American Society for Microbiology (ASM), only 66% of men actually washed their hands in public restrooms. The women did much better with 88% taking to the sinks.
The study was conducted in 2005, but before you think times are different because of H1N1 flu scares, think again. A survey conducted July 28 – 31, 2009 by the Bradley Corporation said a full 54% of the 1,020 respondents “wash their hands no more or less frequently” in a public restroom as a result of the H1N1 virus. The ASM found similar results in 2003, despite public concerns of the SARS virus.
Handwashing may be your single most important act to help stop the spread of infection and stay healthy.

This is particularly unfortunate because according to Dr. Judy Daly, “Influenza A viruses, of which swine flu is one, are fragile viruses that can be easily destroyed through proper hygiene, including use of soap and water and alcohol-based hand sanitizers, Flu viruses most frequently enter the body when contaminated hands touch mucous membranes of the nose, eyes, and mouth. Frequent hand hygiene certainly makes this transfer less likely.”

According to the CDC, scientists estimate that people who are not washing their hands often or well enough may transmit up to 80% of all infections by their hands. From doorknobs to animals to food, harmful germs can live on almost everything.

Handwashing may be your single most important act to help stop the spread of infection and stay healthy. As a reminder, hand hygiene requires soap and water or alcohol-based hand rubs. Antibacterial soaps provide no advantage.

Experts remind us to scrub with soap for at least 20 seconds. One way to track your time is to sing the Happy Birthday song or Twinkle Twinkle Little Star while you’re at it. Doing so out loud may amuse other patrons, so why not?

Of course viruses travel through the air at astonishing speeds when you sneeze, so remember to cover your mouth – but do that the right way too. Don’t sneeze into your hands. Try to sneeze into the crook of your arm or shoulder.
So what do you say guys? Let’s hit those faucets! Perhaps someone can come up with a better 20 second tune to help them along. Who has ideas?

Source: HealthEgo