Handsfree Dispenser

     We all know of someone who is a germaphobe, even if it is a celebrity like the deceased Howard Hughes.  Somehow we think of them as weird or fanatical.  They range from those who are constantly washing or sanitizing their hands to those who keep a really clean home to the medical-dental professionals. One does not have to be labelled a germaphobe just because one is aware that there exists a whole microworld around us. Not all microbes are harmful, but since we don’t walk around with microscopes, we cannot seperate them. The recent flu scares make us conscious of our coughs, sneezes, and germy hands.  That is when we become germaphobes in order to avoid illness. Medical and Dental professions have strict protocals to avoid cross-contamination.  They use germicides, barriers, and aseptic techniques to protect the patient and themselves.

     We are seeing more touchless devices in restrooms like hands free towel dispensers, door openers, and flushers. True there are still not enough but the awareness is growing. Are you a gremaphobe if you don’t want to handle something unclean in a restroom?  Is coughing into your elbow not your hands the sign of a germaphobe? I think it is common sense behavior. So the next time you see a “germaphobe” doing something think about it and maybe you will learn a lesson in staying healthy.

      “Home Sweet Home”, “There’s No Place Like Home”, and “Home Is Where The heart Is”. Unfortunately we could also say, “Home Germy Home”, “There’s No Contamination Like Home”, and “Home Is Where The Germs Are”. Yes we all feel safe in our homes, and rightly so because we cannot see the microscopic world that lives at home with us, namely harmless and harmful microbes. We do not want to sterilize our surroundings, and in fact it would be impossible and undesirable to do so. We can however prevent illness by simply washing our hands and using disinfectant wipes  on objects that harbor disease causing germs.  The usual suspects  are door knobs, land phones, cell phones, keyboards, kitchen counters, bathroom counters, faucets, sinks, TV remotes, toys, and keys. They can easily be wiped clean by using disinfectant wipes. When family members are sick, it is necessary to take these measures more frequently so as to prevent spreading the illness to other family members. Oh, and remember your car it’s your home away from home. You are not a Germaphobe because you do these things, you are just aware, and want to prevent cross contamination.

       This morning I was shopping in a drugstore.  As I walked down one aisle, a clerk was stocking the shelves.  He sneezed while trying to say hello. I said, “Sorry, you must have a cold”.  He replyed, “Yes I do”. While shopping further, I heard 5 more sneezes.  Now you know he was sneezing into the air, literally spraying germs everywhere. Maybe he was even sneezing into his hands, the hands that were handling items to be put on shelves.  A person who comes along and picks up one of these items, is exposed to the cold or flu germs.

       A person who is sick should not come to work, but you know that is not reality. Kids give their colds and flus to each other and to the teacher, office workers contaminate their desks and computers, food handlers can be the cause of illness, bank tellers can spread more than wealth. and clerks like the one I encountered today just don’t have a clue when it comes to preventing cross-contamination.

     Washing one’s hands and drying them with a sanitary paper towel,  hand sanitizers, using disinfectant wipes, and sneezing into the elbow, taught as hygiene for kids and adults are several ways to keep those germs from infecting others.

     Kids can be the greatest carriers of germs. Unfortunately some of those microbes cause illnesses like flus and colds. They usually do not wash their hands unless they are reminded. They handle toys, doors, phones, toilets, pets, books, and more. They sneeze and cough in those hands, in the air, and on objects. They need to be educated about germs and how to avoid them. Simple rules of hygiene for kids is what is needed. Handwashing, hand sanitizing, and sneezing and coughing into an elbow need to be emphasized.  Less sick days for kids, families, teachers, workers, and friends would be a great result.

     How many times do you enter a public restroom that is fully equipped with sanitary, touchless devices?  Not too often from my experience. In fact, some restrooms are the opposite with unclean soap dispensers, towel dispensers, flushers, and door handles. You know that these things have been handled by countless users before you.” What is the use of washing my hands?”, you say.  I totally agree.  I have used different strategies to get around this problem.  Once you wash your hands, whether the soap dispenser is automatic or not,  you want to avoid cross-contamination. The towel dispenser may or may not be hands free.  Use your arm or back of your hand if it is not to get a clean towel. Then use it to turn off the faucet if need be.  lastly open the door with that towel.  If there is no receptacle near the door in which to throw in the towel, leave it on the floor.  This sends a message to the establishment.  At least have a trash can at the door to protect your clients from germs when they exit.

     When workers have to stay home because of illness, it costs the employer money. When workers who are ill come to work anyway, they spread the germs that caused them to be sick. They touch doorknobs or handles, pens and pencils, phones, keyboards, and armrests.  If they sneeze or cough into their hands and droplets reach desktops, the workplace area is contaminated. Keyboards especially have been shown to harbor more bacteria than a toilet seat.    This ought to be enough reason to motivate management to do the following:

    Mount a hand sanitizer dispenser in a convenient location for workers.

    Provide disinfectant wipes that can be used to clean surfaces like phones etc.

    Switch to keyboards that can be disinfected and washed. Wise investment

    Automatic devices like towel dispensers improve restroom hygiene

    Hands free restroom door openers are the last link to keeping germs away

                                                  STAY HEALTHY

     As we go about our daily business we are unaware of the millions of germs we are in contact with.  Many of them are harmless, but on the other hand some of these organisms can cause illness.  It is impossible to avoid them all.  The best we can do is to wipe objects with a disinfectant wipe where it is possible, and to wash our hands after being in public, before touching someone, and before touching food. You don’t have to be a germaphobe to be safe.

     This is a ( incomplete) list of common germ carriers:    

     Purses, gym bags, diaper bags, credit and ATM cards, keys, cell phones, shopping carts, steering wheels, keyboards and a mouse, door knobs and light switches. The list could go on but these are the most frequent sources of germs. Travelling and staying in hospitals are a different story . DON’T FORGET TO WASH YOUR HANDS!                                  

Wash Your Hands

     Hands free towel dispensers are becoming popular in public restrooms. The public is more aware of restroom hygiene and avoiding cross-contamination. No one wittingly wants to touch devices that were handled by the prior user, especially in the high traffic of a public restroom.

     There are different types of touchless towel dispensers.  There are the sensor-operated dispensers like the popular enMotion models.  They are touchless because you just wave your hand in front of the sensor, and a towel appears. Other types have a centerfold towel that you can pull down for use. When you use these touch free towel dispensers you know that you are getting a germ-free paper towel.

      If the establishment that you visit does not have a hands free towel dispenser, give them a suggestion to install one. Then when you return, you will feel more secure in avoiding germs.

Virus can spread through cross contamination, particularly through the hands. Our hands are always in contact with something. It is no surprise then that our hands contain germs and viruses unseen by the naked eye. That is why it is important to keep our hands sanitized at all times, especially when we handle food.

Sometimes viruses and bacteria may spread from one person to another just by touching the same item, be it a door knob or a computer keyboard. Even bar soaps or liquid dispensers can be a source of viruses. A hands free soap dispenser is an effective alternative solution to washing hands. It makes use of infrared technology to dispense liquid soap any time without touching the dispenser itself. It can also be used for hand sanitizers and lotions and is great in businesses that require the hands to be sanitized at all times.

Our hands touch so many things throughout the day. They help us carry items to and fro, they push buttons and hold us steady when we have to cling to handrails and stair rails. As a result, they become full of germs and viruses that come from people who are infected.

When we forget to wash up before eating, we can get very sick. That is why there are many gadgets today that can help minimize touching infected items. One of these are hands free door openers that eliminate the need to touch door handles that other people have already laid their hands on.