{"id":380,"date":"2013-11-27T16:33:34","date_gmt":"2013-11-27T23:33:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/uwyoextension.org\/uwnutrition\/?p=380"},"modified":"2024-01-08T10:08:09","modified_gmt":"2024-01-08T17:08:09","slug":"hand-washing-who-really-does-it","status":"publish","type":"newsletters","link":"https:\/\/uwyoextension.org\/uwnutrition\/newsletters\/hand-washing-who-really-does-it\/","title":{"rendered":"Hand Washing. Who Really Does It?"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

Most people, if questioned, would tell you that washing their hands is important.\u00a0 We continue to receive messages from multiple health agencies as to the importance of washing our hands, but when new research suggests that we aren\u2019t \u201cjust doing it,\u201d it can be surprising.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Meeting the Recommendation?<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

A recent study in the April edition of the Journal of Environmental Health found that out of a sample of 3,739 people, only 5.3% washed their hands for at least 15 seconds.\u00a0 This study was performed in a college town environment and relied on trained observers in a variety of restrooms to watch, in an unobtrusive manner, the hand-washing behaviors of those who used the restroom.\u00a0 These results are a little different from those reported in 2009 and 2010, that suggested 94-96% of people surveyed, self-reported washing their hands after using the restroom.\u00a0 This suggests that we know we need to wash our hands, but few of us are actually doing it correctly.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The Importance<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

I don\u2019t know about you, but this definitely caught my attention as we have more recent foodborne illness outbreaks related to norovirus and hepatitis A.\u00a0 \u00a0 Not only are food service workers targeted when outbreaks such as these occur, but customers can be responsible as well, and it appears we need continued education and reminders as to the need to wash our hands and how to wash our hands in an appropriate manner.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Favorable Environmental Conditions<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The Michigan State University study found that two environmental conditions resulted in subjects more likely washing their hands.\u00a0 They found that when restroom sinks were clean people were more likely to wash their hands, and when restrooms displayed signs reminding people to wash their hands, that indeed more people would wash their hands.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

National Handwashing Awareness Week<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

December 1st<\/span><\/sup>-7th<\/span><\/sup> is \u201cNational Handwashing Awareness Week,\u201d and what better time to remind all of us to wash our hands?\u00a0 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the following procedure:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n