Credit Michigan State University
# 7381
Discouraging news today from Michigan State University, where a study has determined that only about 5% of people who were observed in public restrooms washed their hands effectively.
Something to think about the next time you shake hands with a stranger (or even a friend).
As a former paramedic - I was, and still am - fanatical about hand hygiene. So we’ve looked the topic of handwashing compliance in this blog often, including:
Global Clean Your Hands Day: 2012
Doing The Hand Jive
Hand Hygiene Among Doctors Exposed
Giving Germs A Helping Hand
The article, and a link to the study, appear today in the Michigan State University’s Today online magazine.
Eww! Only 5 percent wash hands correctly
Contact(s): Carl Borchgrevink , Andy Henion
Remember Mom’s advice about washing your hands thoroughly after using the restroom?
Apparently not.
A new study by Michigan State University researchers found that only 5 percent of people who used the bathroom washed their hands long enough to kill the germs that can cause infections.
What’s more, 33 percent didn’t use soap and 10 percent didn’t wash their hands at all. Men were particularly bad at washing their hands correctly.
The study, based on observations of 3,749 people in public restrooms, appears in the Journal of Environmental Health.
You’ll find a short (1:22) video on Youtube about this video.
And the study PDF may be viewed at:
Read it and weep.
But don’t touch your eyes until you wash your hands.
