Posted on 09/16/2003 6:42:02 AM PDT by bedolido
More than one of four users of O'Hare Airport washrooms didn't wash their hands after going to the bathroom, according to a survey that found even dirtier hands in New York's airport.
But in Toronto, 96 percent of airport bathroom users washed up. The high rate likely is due to fears over the SARS virus, which hit the Canadian city hard, researchers said.
Observers who hung out in airport bathrooms spied on 7,541 users in six cities. Observers were instructed to comb their hair and put on makeup while discreetly recording hand-washing behavior.
The percentage of non-washers was 29 percent in New York, 26 percent in Chicago, San Francisco and Miami and 19 percent in Dallas.
"The same people that fail to wash after using restrooms go on to pick up children, handle food, greet family and use other public facilities," said Dr. Judy Daly, secretary of the American Society for Microbiology, which sponsored the survey.
The survey, conducted last month by Wirthlin Worldwide, was reported at the Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy at McCormick Place.
The findings indicate many people lie when it comes to hand-washing. In an earlier survey, 95 percent of adults claimed they always wash their hands after using public restrooms.
With the exception of Toronto, there has been no significant increase in hand-washing compared with observational studies in 1996 and 2000. And researchers fear rates could drop in Toronto as SARS fears ebb. During the epidemic's peak, the media bombarded residents with reminders to wash their hands.
Germs enter your body if your unwashed hands touch your nose, mouth, eyes and open wounds. Hand-washing is one of the simplest and most effective ways to reduce the transmission of colds, flu, diarrhea, SARS and other diseases.
Health officials advise washing before preparing or eating food, treating a wound or a sick person and inserting or removing contact lenses. Wash after going to the bathroom; handling uncooked meat, poultry and fish; changing a diaper; blowing your nose; coughing; sneezing; taking out the garbage, or handling an animal.
Use soap and warm running water. Rub hands together for at least 10 to 15 seconds. Wash all surfaces thoroughly, including wrists and under the fingernails. Forget anti-bacterial soap; ordinary soap works just fine.
Some aren't keeping it clean
A survey found the following percentages of people do not wash their hands after using airport restrooms:
Dallas/Fort Worth: males, 31 percent; females, 8 percent
John F. Kennedy, New York: males, 37 percent; females, 22 percent
Miami Dade County: males, 30 percent; females, 21 percent
O'Hare: males, 38 percent; females, 15 percent
San Francisco: males, 20 percent; females, 41 percent
Toronto: males, 5 percent; females, 3 percent
Total: males, 26 percent, females, 17 percent
SOURCE: American Society for Microbiology
Well the Japanese still Bow instead of shake hands. Unless in the west.
You think San FRansico needs a category for transexuals using the female lav ?
Still and issue with the towels. Personally, I will wash when the switches are their and the automatic electric driers are installed. Otherwise, I'll wait till later (unless I missed).
How on earth do you get out? Almost all of the doors swing inward.
This is an interesting anomaly. In all other airports women had a much higher rate of hand washing than males. Here it is reversed.
Those stats for San Fran are skewed aren't they? Maybe the researcher had trouble differentiatin/determining the current study subject's gender and was limited between the only two categories he/she had to select on the research results-form ... recommened only for San Fran study next time following categories: o Male o Female o Don't_know
Maybe you can tell us how the towels become 'soiled' pre-use?
Pinky finger ....
Interesting observation. Most of the conversation to this point has centered on taking a leak. As far as stall usage, let me say this. I have to be literally seconds from humiliating myself before I use a public restroom in the sitting position. Sitting down can be avoided in nearly every circumstance... extended dining at a Chinese buffet excepted.
I don't know how women can stand to sit down as a matter of routine. Perhaps they have some sitting tips they can share. Ladies? You out there?
I guess there's something to say about the no-touch sinks and toilets flushers...But, then there's the handles to dispense the paper towels....
Yes, the clean and the filthy.
;)
I think the 'secret' lies in those LARGE hand bags many of them tote around, and, of course, we know the 'cycle time' is a LOT longer for a woman ...
Crank the handle pre-wash ....
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