Mar 28 2008
The recommended handwashing technique
I’m currently stranded at the Sacramento Airport and am waiting for Alaska Airlines to “get paperwork from command” before our flight can be boarded. Great. This is exactly how I was hoping to spend my evening. While waiting, I took the opportunity to use the restroom. While washing my hands, I noticed something unusual. The motion-activated sink runs for exactly seven seconds if it doesn’t detect vigorous enough (in its own subjective opinion) motion. Which seems odd to me. Because a seven second handwash can’t possibly be healthy.
In fact, it’s not. In this page about proper handwashing technique, the CDC recommends the following strategy:
How to wash your hands:
- 1. Wet your hands with warm water.
- 2. Apply a generous amount of soap.
- 3. Rub your hands together for 20 seconds.
- 4. Rinse your hands.
- 5. Dry your hands with a paper towel.
- 6. Use the paper towel to turn off the faucet and open the door.
It seems that this process would require the water to run for at least 30-40 seconds.
Also, in an informal survey, I witnessed 13 people enter and exit the bathroom. Three washed their hands. None did so for more than 10 seconds. I really need to get out of this airport.
Okay, Larry Craig.
We did an experiment in microbiology with handwashing. Plain water does the trick if you do the washing motion for 10 seconds!
yankeetag,
i am sorry about the hold up.
i have a couple things i would like to put forth:
1) why on earth would you need to visit the restroom when you didn’t even finish your beer at dinner? a true mystery.
2) my one republican friend claims that it is entirely possible to go “number one” without, at any point, having to use one’s hands, safe perhaps for the un/zipping aspect of the transaction. as a result, he never washes his hands after said transaction. he’s tried to hand me things like grapes before, and i’ve always been skeptical about accepting, but could he and the 10 other people who left the bathroom without washing their hands be on to something?
Well, go figure. Both of you made some type of Republican reference. As if we’d ever trust something they said.
By the way, I don’t care what any of you say, I think that it’s absolutely disgusting to skip the hand washing.
PS: Corine, the beer I didn’t finish at dinner was my second beer, and I had a glass of water, a bottle of water, and a cup of coffee. All evidence points to me being rather well hydrated.