"Look Ma, No Hands"



Posted: Friday, January 29, 2010

by Amy Bauer R.D.H.
NewSolution LLC

That old saying "look Ma no hands" takes on another meaning besides riding a bike with no hands. I am referring to the situations that we are offered in our public restrooms. What a great feeling it is to use a public restroom that is equipped with sensor-operated dispensers for the soap, water, and paper towel, automatic toilet flushers, and hands free door openers. The last item can be the most important in avoiding cross-contamination because if we used all those other devices and then used our hands to exit the door, we have defeated the purpose.

Our hands are the carriers of disease when we cough and sneeze into them, do not wash them before eating, and pick up germs that others leave before us. Health care workers in hospitals and care centers have had training that has them sanitizing and washing hands between patients to prevent cross contamination, especially MRSA (methicillin resistant staph aureus), the latest superbug. Th Center For Disease Control states that simple hand washing can prevent illnesses like MRSA.

It has been noted that teachers can have the germiest hands. This is probably true because they interact with children. Kids are not aware of their hands causing illness unless they are reminded. Doctors have observed that being too anti-germicidal can lead to allergies, and I am not promoting germaphobia, but "look Ma, no hands" can mean no germy hands. This applies to food handlers (at home also), all OSHA health providers, plumbers, office workers (keyboards and typewriters are laden with germs), child care workers, school staff, and others.Remind your doctor to wash his hands if he doesn't do it.

Amy Bauer R.D.H.

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