Wow, this kind of makes you think twice before taking that next cookie or chip from your friend's hand. With the ongoing flu "crisis", maybe more graphic signs should be put up.
-Henry Zhang
Friday, October 16, 2009
Don't Read Before You Eat
According to this article, a study conducted in Britain found out that 65% of women actually use soap when washing their hands, and only 31% of men do. Another funny part and gross part of this study found out that while women respond to signs like "Please wash your hands with soap", men require more graphic motivations. This study done by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine found out that men are more convinced by signs that say "Soap it off or eat it later."
Wow, this kind of makes you think twice before taking that next cookie or chip from your friend's hand. With the ongoing flu "crisis", maybe more graphic signs should be put up.
-Henry Zhang
Wow, this kind of makes you think twice before taking that next cookie or chip from your friend's hand. With the ongoing flu "crisis", maybe more graphic signs should be put up.
-Henry Zhang
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21 comments:
This makes me think about how pointless the Purell is for preventing Swine Flu. An anti-bacterial sanitizer is going to do next to nothing to a virus.
Ya I agree with Joe. I really don't think purell is going to prevent someone from getting swine flu, even though I still use it... Maybe its psychological. The purell just makes you feel like you're are doing something to prevent the virus and fewer people freak out about it spreading.
I find the study about how males and females react to different signs interesting. Maybe males are just better visual learners? And maybe females just take the time to actually read the signs whereas a picture is much faster to get the point across?
If your type of person who dosent wash your hands after going to the bathroom I HOPE YOU GET SICK!!!!! People should really know better. thats how germs are passed when people cought on there hand and then touch a door knob that virus can live there between 8- 72 hours depending on what virus they have.
I agree with Joe and Talia and I don't think Purrell is actually useful and whatnot. Like washing hands, it kills a lot of bacteria on your skin, including those that aren't actually harmful and may be benefitial [I remember that from AP Bio hahaha].
But nonetheless, I still think it's good/sanitary to wash hands and whatnot.
I actually witnessed this!! My mom and I were at the doctors and we could see out the window to a construction site. The portapoty were in clear view and we watched two guys go in and come out, one of them washed their hands but the other didn't. We then started to watch more closely and kept track of how many washed there hands. There was 1 out of 7 in less than a half hour! It was so disgusting, and let me just say that some of them where not in there for a short while.
-Justine Roscoe
In response to Joe, Talia, and Kasper, Purell does in fact affect the swine flu virus. Though alcohol is mainly an antibiotic, it also denatures viruses, rendering them harmless. Hand sanitizer is also beneficial because it does not create antibiotic resistant bacteria.
First of all, EWW!! That is not legit!
Secondly, I agree with Amanda. What is wrong with you people!?!
I don't know about you, but after reaading this, I thought of the Lysol commercial where they show all the germs on the surefaces before they have been sprayed.
This is gross. But it also made me think about the effectiveness of signs promoting safe/healthy behavior.
The article says, "Even with the most effective reminders, the use of soap increased only modestly — to 71 percent of women and 34.8 percent of men." This kind of reminds me of those stickers that are in the Aragon bathrooms that remind people to save paper towels because they come from trees. The stickers say something about how much paper/how many trees will be saved by the stickers, but how much good do the stickers actually do?
-Esther A
Why do you guys care so much about washing your hands after using the bathroom? You guys should worry more about washing your hands after typing a comment for this blog!
According to researches, there's roughly 5 times more bacteria on your keyboard than on a toilet seat. (http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/05/keyboard-dirtier-than-toilet.php) What's more important is washing your hands before you eat. That's the best way to prevent yourself from getting sick. Also, there's loads of bacteria on money. "A study of American coins and currency revealed the presence of bacteria, including staphylococcus, E. coli, and klebsiella," (http://www.fleur-de-coin.com/coinfacts/unitedstates_3.asp). Kinda makes you think twice when you buy school food huh? Probably should make a visit to the restroom first and wash your hands...
I hear what you are saying Joe, but in the flu season like this, any type of precaution is good. Even if it is Purell. ODing on is bad because it kills natural bacteria but living in a swine flu pandemic, I have officially made hand-sanitizer my bff!
Getting back to the topic, I think that psychologically, humans are better learners when they have visuals or comparisons like "soap it off or eat it later." Human minds are made to process in a way that responds OMG! when they encounter: eat IT later sayings. After reading this, I am going to wash my hands...like now.
Yea, regarding your comment Justin. Other very dirty objects around the house are cell phones and cooking platforms. Also, public washing machines are actually very very disgusting (I won't go into the details).
As for the visual learning, that may be the case. Also, men might also take on more of a bravado and need some fear to cause them to do something.
-Henry Zhang
People...
Newsflash: Bacteria and viruses are everywhere!!!
Anything and everything that everyone or anyone touches are potentially contaminated.
If you really want something really shocking, watch this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeAOC3A0xJ8
I definitely agree with the point here claiming that Purell isn't really going to prevent anyone from getting swine flu entirely. It may be a precaution to it though. Purell might help kill germs at first. But afterward, when you touch something else, you have germs on you again. So Purell is just temporary prevention. I also find it funny how females react to signs differently than men. Maybe women are more careful, while men just tend to think that nothing can get them..until they see actual pictures of warnings then start to freak out.
Hmm I do agree with you all on the Purell situation.
From http://biology.about.com/od/microbiology/a/handsanitizers.htm
it says, "A hand sanitizer can not and should not take the place of proper cleansing procedures with soap and water."
This shows that even though the hand sanitizer companies claim that they kill 99.9% of the bacteria on your hands, hand sanitizers should never be replaced by washing hands!
Definitely. Purell cannot always be depended on and it may not provide full protection from germs and bacteria. Since on all the bottles it claims to be 99.9% effective, we can still assume that the .01% can account for the worse.
I also agree with what Joe said. and because Purell is only 99% effective, the remaining 1% of the bacteria that is resistant to Purell will survive and multiply leaving your hands in worse shape than they were before using purell.
I can't believe this.
I believe that we learn as a child to wash out hands. I remember during Pre-school and early elementary school everyone washed their hands.
I learned that washing your hands is better than just Purell because the running water and your friction would kill the most germs. =D
Justine-
Let's just be glad that those men don't work in the restaurant industry.
"My mom and I were at the doctors and we could see out the window to a construction site. The portapoty were in clear view and we watched two guys go in and come out, one of them washed their hands but the other didn't. We then started to watch more closely and kept track of how many washed there hands."
Justine, you were spying on people using the portable bathrooms?
"Let's just be glad that those men don't work in the restaurant industry."
Even though it is illegal, I have no doubts that the restaurant industry has its own set of unsanitary workers.
I couldn't agree more with Kevin.
I'm absolutely positive that there are some people who work in the food industry who still do not wash their hands. Whether accidental or just a consequence of pure mindlessness, washing hands isn't something that everyone does.
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