According to TipsofAllSorts.com, you should avoid using the dryers in public restrooms to dry your hands. They tend to suck bacteria from the air & blow it onto your hands. Bacteria loves to linger in hot atmosphere & the dryers help keep them alive.
I know that many people don't wash their hands for LONG enough. I have actually seen people run their hands under water for a second.. no soap. The right amount of time is to sing Happy Birthday in your head. By the time the song is done... your hands should be clean. (I know it sounds weird but its true) As for your question.... Any nurses out there to answer this one?
Posts: 5305 | Location: The Motor City | Registered: 06-03-02
I do know that some people don't wash their hands for nearly long enough. I've never heard of singing "Happy Birthday" to get the job done. I bet that would go over well with young children. What a creative idea!
Posts: 5457 | Location: USA | Registered: 06-24-02
I don't know if that's true about air hand dryers; however, I prefer paper towels for a different reason:
The "safe" way to dry your hands in public is to grab a paper towel, wipe your hands, then turn off the faucet with the towel. This way, you avoid contact with the possibly contaminated faucet handles once your hands are clean. You may also want to open the door with the towel still in hand.
(Besides - paper towels are quicker!)
Posts: 6323 | Location: LA (Lower Alabama) USA | Registered: 06-03-02
are disgusting!!! Not only do they pull in the bad air and blow it on your hands, they blow everything else around (from the floor, etc.) right up and all around you - - now I ask, how gross is that???
I agree with TIE - - papertowels all the way - - and I use it to open the door as well and throw it away someplace on the other side.....
Way too many people do not wash their hands at all and then they wrap their grubby hands around the handle - - do I want to touch that.....NO I DON'T THINK SO!!!!!
in my personal and unanimous opinion i feel that since those dryers actually tend to burn the skin, i think they are too hot for bacteria to survive for long. besides, all those germs are good for you. by always going the antibacterial route, you are lowering you body's natural resistance making it easier for you to get sick. that makes more sense, doesn't it?
As a nurse we wash our hands sometimes every 5 min depending on what you are doing. You need to scrub and rub them together like Sam said for at least 15 sec. Sing the Alphabet also works. Then dry your hands with a paper towel if it is one that you have to crank then you should crank it prior to washing. Because if the previous person didn't not scrub well then you will pick up their germs. Same with turning off the water. So one should: 1. Make sure paper towel are out of the dispencer if needed. (the best kind are the ones that come out like kleenx) 2. Turn water on 3. Wet hands 4. Apply soap 5. Scrub 6. rinse hands 7. Dry hands 8. With a paper towel use it to turn water off. Like mentioned above you may want to open the door with a paper towel.
quote:Originally posted by hassia: in my personal and unanimous opinion i feel that since those dryers actually tend to burn the skin, i think they are too hot for bacteria to survive for long. besides, all those germs are good for you. by always going the antibacterial route, you are lowering you body's natural resistance making it easier for you to get sick. that makes more sense, doesn't it?
YES!!! You're right! That germ-phobia is exaggerated! It makes you tough to come into contact with a couple of bacteria. Apart from that they're everywhere anyway. Most illnesses you get get into your body via your respiratory system. And they don't come from some strangers who've used the same toilet (or "restroom" ) but from those you spend the most time with: your family, friends, colleagues, etc. - all clean people. Lighten up everybody! All of those desinfectants, soaps, and other artificial stuff are much more harmful as they can cause allergies. I lived in a 3rd world country as a child with my family. I have two little siblings, and we all came back hunky-dory healthy. And if you still mistrust the dryers and the paper towels you can let your hands dry in the air or use your clothes or whatever. All I can say is that there will be no significant difference in the state of health between people who use an electric dryer or paper towels - or people who don't wash their hands at all for that matter. Yes, I know people who don't wash their hands, and while I also find that gross (I always wash my hands!) I must say that those people seem to have no disadvantages from that.
) but from those you spend the most time with: your family, friends, colleagues, etc. - all clean people. Lighten up everybody! All of those desinfectants, soaps, and other artificial stuff are much more harmful as they can cause allergies. I lived in a 3rd world country as a child with my family. I have two little siblings, and we all came back hunky-dory healthy. And if you still mistrust the dryers and the paper towels you can let your hands dry in the air or use your clothes or whatever. All I can say is that there will be no significant difference in the state of health between people who use an electric dryer or paper towels - or people who don't wash their hands at all for that matter. Yes, I know people who don't wash their hands, and while I also find that gross (I always wash my hands!) I must say that those people seem to have no disadvantages from that.
