Leaving seat up least of men's problems
Women are more likely to wash their hands than men after going to the loo, but both sexes are pretty bad at doing so!
A recent survey shows 63% of males, and 39% of females don’t wash their hands after going to the toilet*, but an international Global Handwashing Day is hoping to change that.
The purpose of Global Handwashing Day is to create awareness and understanding about the importance of handwashing with soap as an effective and affordable way to prevent diseases and save lives.
Global Handwashing Day will be recognised in New Zealand this year on Friday October 14, with the theme “Make Handwashing a Habit”. As part of this, New Zealand hygiene specialist, Cannon Hygiene, wants to make sure New Zealanders are washing their hands right to help prevent the spread of disease.
OCS and Cannon Hygiene managing director, Gareth Marriott, says 95 percent of people who use a public toilet say they have washed their hands, but in reality, one in five people don’t.
“A virus can spread through an office in just two to four hours, but research has highlighted the importance of handwashing in helping mitigate that spread,” says Mr Marriott.
“After using the bathroom, a person has an average 200 million bacteria per square inch on each hand.”
In addition, the majority of people don’t wash their hands for long enough. In most cases, people wash their hands for just 11 seconds, however, the World Health Organization recommends no less then 30 seconds.
Mr Marriott says if everyone washed their hands properly, and with soap, they’re doing their bit to help prevent the spread of disease.
Best practice tips for Handwashing to prevent the spread of germs:
- Wet hands with water.
- Apply enough soap to cover all hand surfaces and rub hands palm to palm, up to and including wrists.
- Right palm over back of left, with linked fingers and vice versa.
- Palm to palm with linked fingers.
- Backs of fingers to opposing palms with fingers interlocked.
- Rotational rubbing of left thumb held in right palm and vice versa.
- Rotational rubbing with closed fingers of right hand in left palm and vice versa.
- Rinse hands well with water.
Dry hands with paper towel. Turn off tap with paper towel. Your hands are clean.
