Just Keeping it Clean
By Brett Salisbury
The body has approximately 50,000 bacteria per square inch. The hands come in contact with more foreign objects by touching doorknobs, telephones, toilet seats and handles, shaking hands and by getting sneezed into or coughed upon. Of course, we can eliminate some of these germs by washing our hands. Unfortunately, not many people take advantage of this opportunity to eradicate germs.
As you enter the bathroom and observe people coming out of the bathroom stalls, how many of them wash their hands? And of those who do go to the sinks, how many actually use soap to wash their hands and then dry them? Chances are good that not many do.
In a study done by the American Society for Microbiology, only 2/3 of all Americans wash their hands with soap and water and dry them after going to the bathroom. That means that of the approximate 303,824,640 people in America, approximately 101,274,880 aren’t getting to the sinks after they finish with their trip to the toilet.
Not only is not washing your hands unsanitary to you, but also to those around you. Every time you shake someone’s hand, pat them on the back, or a touch a community object, you pass your germs. Most people aren’t too fond of being touched by piddle ridden hands.
As Stefan Shwaery, junior, so passionately put, “It’s freakin’ gross! When I see someone not washing their hands I think of the word gross.”
Don’t stop with the hand washing at the toilets, though. You should wash your hands often to avoid getting sick. Disinfecting your hands after your use of the latrine is only one time. You should wash your hands after touching animals, handling garbage and raw meats, blowing your nose and treating a wound.
Now you may ask, “How do you get your hands cleaned properly, then?” According to the Mayo Clinic, you should first wet your hands with running water. You then should apply soap to your damp hands and make sure to lather well. Rub your hands together for at least 20 seconds. Keep in mind to scrub all surfaces of your hands. Then rinse your hands thoroughly. And finally, you should dry your hands with a clean towel or air dryer.
Now that you know how and when to wash your hands, go out and make the world a cleaner place by stopping the spread of those nasty germs. Be considerate of others and the fact that not washing your hands does not only affect you. Let’s not make people think of the word gross by not washing our hands. Remember, he/she who maintains cleanliness keeps away disease.