Truemors
is reporting from
Member
NP Rank:
NP Rank:
What's so difficult about washing your hands?
Share:
by kerren | October 3, 2007 at 07:26 am
513 views | 24 Recommendations | 8 comments
Photos
Videos
I am not a fan of research studies that "research" very obvious
topics. Often they seem to be a waste of money, time and the talent of
researchers. But every now and then a rather mundane study will turn up
surprising results and you have to scratch your head. For example, we
have known for centuries that washing your hands is a basic and
far-reaching method to prevent the transmission of germs. Being the
evolved humans that we are, one would assume that this knowledge has
worked its way into our behavior. But wait, just when you think you
have us figured out, we surprise you.
The American Society of Microbiology and The Soap and Detergent Association have released the results of a study regarding
hand-washing in public restrooms. Six thousand men and women were
observed in public restrooms around the United States, including most
major cities. The researchers staked out various types of locations
such as stadiums, museums, markets, and even New York's Grand Central
and Penn Stations. Guess what! We're washing our hands less. There's
been a 6 percent decline since 2005. Of the 6,000 participants 77%
washed their hands in public restrooms. When divided by gender 66%
percent of men washed their hands, compared to 88% of women.
The cities with the "cleanest hands" were Chicago, New York, Atlanta and San Francisco, in that order.
Unfortunately, this study did not offer any reasons for the decline.
~ Kerren Lynch-Gallagher, MS,NCMT,PFT
Resource: Americans getting lax about clean hands
What is NowPublic?
NowPublic lets people work together to cover news events around the world.
Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (8)
at 07:37 on October 3rd, 2007
kerren, i wash my hands...that's the truth. perhaps more people are using that hand sanitizer stuff...?
at 08:02 on October 3rd, 2007
Thanks Ryan. The optimist in me wants to believe that they are using the hand sanitizers gels, the cynic says "yeah, right". I personally think more venues should have dispensers of hand sanitizer available throughout the location. I'm sure they would argue the cost; but it could have a big impact during cold and flu season.
at 08:00 on October 3rd, 2007
Nice.
I wash my hands, but have been know to dry them in my hair. I don't like wasting paper towels.
at 08:01 on October 3rd, 2007
kerren, thanks for this...great stuff. I am such a hand washer (and I rarely get sick, so take that, germs!) but I still occasionally see people who slip out of bathrooms without washing their hands. Gross! If not for your own germ creation, think of the millions of germs that came before! Good god, people!
at 13:04 on October 3rd, 2007
It gets more common every time I go to a movie or other indoor event -- guys go straight from the stalls or urinals out into the crowds without as much as a nod to the sinks.
There is a related phenomenon (and some more useless research may link the two problems): people who don't use their turn signals when driving.
I would bet my next paycheck that a significant number of the Unwashed don't bother to signal their turns in traffic, either.
It's a condition known as Social Apathy in both cases. I fear it's incurable, if not terminal.
at 15:48 on October 3rd, 2007
or how about people who sneeze into their hands instead of into their shoulders/arms/shirts? And they STILL don't wash after? I made a lady in target wash off the toy she picked up after touching it with her snotty hands! UGH!
I teach preschool and my little ones are EXPERTS at the covering the sneezes/coughs and washing their hands. They know if they need to pick a booger, then they need to go get a tissue, cover up their finger, then go to town!!! They are very good little washers and I am glad my pictures were just right for this article!
at 18:46 on October 3rd, 2007
I was in McDonalds.... The girl from behind the counter, enters toilet stall, walks out and goes directly behind the food counter with out washing her hands.... ugh. I followed her to the front counter to see if she was leaving for the day. NOT, She went to work. I don't have a problem with McDonlads, just the practices of people who handle my food. I know they have rules, but, please I wish she had washed her hands..
at 23:27 on October 3rd, 2007
kerren, oh yuck! But, good stuff. When I leave a restroom, I try to open the door with my elbow or a towel in my hand because I figure that a lot of people haven't been washing.