Hand Washing Update!: GUWellness: Mind, Body, Soul

When is the last time you saw someone actually wash their hands for the recommended 20 seconds?  As we approach cold and flu season, now is a great time to review these hand washing guidelines:

1. Turn on the sink and get your hands wet with warm water.
2. Use plenty of soap and rub hands together vigorously for at least 20 seconds (the time it takes to sing Happy Birthday twice).
3. Wash palms, backs of hands, wrists, fingers and under fingernails.
4. Rinse hands thoroughly with warm water.
5. Dry hands with a clean towel or paper towel.
6. Turn off the sink with the towel. This prevents reinfection of your hands.

If you shake a lot of hands, this should be of concern to you!

According to a recent survey by washup.org, more than nine in ten adults (95%) say they wash their hands after using public restrooms; however, just six in ten (67%) were observed doing so. Among the observational findings from public restrooms, the dirtiest hands are in New York. Only 49 percent of the 2,283 people observed washed their hands after using a restroom in Grand Central/Penn Station. Conversely, Chicagoans washed their hands most often (83% of adults observed) after going to a public restroom, followed by adults in San Francisco (80%). New Orleans and Atlanta were tied at 64 percent. Across all cities, women washed their hands more often than men (75% versus 58%). This disparity was the most pronounced in Atlanta, where 84% of women at a Braves' game washed up compared to only 36% of men. Americans are also likely to say they wash their hands after changing a diaper (78%) and before handling or eating food (77%). However, many say they don't wash up after petting an animal (45%), coughing or sneezing (31%) or handling money (20%). Interestingly, Americans with college degrees are slightly less likely than those without college degrees to say they wash their hands.


Hmm, makes you think. For more information visit www.washup.org.

Source: www.nationalwellness.org