Bathroom musings...

The bathroom at work made me laugh today. I always go into a specific stall (because I can be a little OCD sometimes...) and mid-way through the day, this black mark appeared on the toilet seat. It took me a while to figure out what it could be, but then it dawned on me. It was the scuff mark from someone's shoe!! They must have been one of the germ-o-phobes who uses their foot to flush the toilet.

Now, don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with trying to avoid germs. But...my whole take on the foot flushing thing is that I'm about to wash my hands, so I'm probbaly safe for a few seconds.

Anyhow, thinking about this person flushing with their foot got me thinking about handwashing and how many people will:
a) not wash their hands after using the restroom.
b) use the "water rinse" method where they just run water over their hands for about 3 seconds and they're done.
c) use soap, but for all of about 2 seconds before they rinse and they're done.

None of these are effective hand washing methods!!! The Mayo Clinic provides these steps for proper hand washing:

• Wet your hands with warm, running water and apply liquid soap or use clean bar soap.
• Lather well.
• Rub your hands vigorously together for at least 15 to 20 seconds. *
• Scrub all surfaces, including the backs of your hands, wrists, between your fingers and under your fingernails.
• Rinse well.
• Dry your hands with a clean or disposable towel.
• Use a towel to turn off the faucet. **

*15-20 seconds is longer than you might think. One suggestion I've heard is to sing "Happy Birthday" 2x while scrubbing.
** I would also suggest using that paper towel to open the door to the bathroom - just think about all the people that walked out without properly washing their hands, leaving their germs all over the door handle for you!!

American Society of Microbiology studies showed:

• 97% of females and 92% of males say they wash; of these only 75% females and 58% males washed.
• 50% of middle and high school students say they wash; of these 33% of females and only 8% of males used soap while washing hands.
• Minnesota Department of Health led three observational studies:
  2003 Back to 50’s Car Show Event—64% females washed and 30% males
  2003 State Fair—65% females washed and 39% males
  2004 State Fair—75% females washed and 51% males
  
  (Source: 2006 Minnesota Handwashing Tool Kit)