October 19, 2007
Did you know...?
23% don't wash their hands in restrooms!
Ninety-one percent of American adults say they always wash their hands after using public restrooms. But just 77 percent actually did so, according to a separate observational study.
An observational study by the American Society for Microbiology shows 77% of people wash their hands in public restrooms - a 6% decline from two years ago. The main culprits in the decline are men.
The percentage of men observed washing their hands fell from 75% two years ago to 66% this year. The percentage of women washing their hands dropped from 90% to 88%.
A telephone survey questioning a nationally representative sample of 1,013 American adults showed that large majorities answered they always wash their hands after such activities as using a public restroom (91%), using the bathroom at home (83%), before handling or eating food (77%), and changing a diaper (73%). Much poorer habits were revealed as fewer indicated they always washed their hands after petting a dog or cat (42%), after handling money (21%), and, most shockingly, after coughing or sneezing (32%).
Contrary to what many people believe, cold and influenza viruses are spread much more often by hands than through airborne transmission from sneezing.
With the cold and flu season just around the corner, it is a good time to provide gentle reminders for employees about proper hand washing. Proper hand washing can help prevent the spread of colds, flu and stomach bugs during cold and flu season.
To encourage hand washing, companies can:
· Post reminders about hand washing in restrooms, kitchens and throughout your building
· Provide alcohol-based hand sanitizers for employee' use where water and soap aren't available.
· Remind employees about the best way to wash their hands:
· Use warm water
· Soap your hands for 15 seconds
· Use a clean towel to completely dry hands
The single most important thing we can do to keep from getting sick and spreading illness to others is to clean our hands.
For more information about hand washing and proper hygiene point your browser to: www.cleaning101.com/HandHygiene/index.cfm.
To learn more about services OHS-COMPCARE has to offer, contact our Client Services Team at (816) 559-6306 or by e-mail at customerservice@ohscompcare.com. You can also visit us at www.ohscompcare.com.
*Please feel free to forward this information to any member of management in your company who would benefit from it.*
OHS-COMPCARE has eight (8) area clinical facilities:
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Blue Springs Clinical Facility |
Independence Clinical Facility |
Johnson County Clinical Facility |
St. Joseph Clinical Facility |
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801 NW St. Mary’s Drive |
19000 E. Eastland Center Crt, St. 200 |
10415 Lackman Road |
904 Edmond Street |
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Blue Springs, MO 64104 |
Independence, MO 64055 |
Lenexa, KS 66219 |
St. Joseph, MO 64501 |
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816-224-9121 |
816-478-9299 |
913-495-9905 |
816-233-7702 |
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After Hours Available |
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KCMO/Broadway Clinical Facility |
KCMO/Front Street Clinical Facility |
Wyandotte County Clinical Facility |
Grandview Clinical Facility |
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1650 Broadway |
6501 East Commerce, Suite 110 |
1333 Meadowlark Lane, Suite 200 |
13830 S Us Highway 71 |
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Kansas City, MO 64108 |
Kansas City, MO 64120 |
Kansas City, KS 66102 |
Grandview, MO 64030 |
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816-842-2020 |
816-483-5550 |
913-596-2774 |
816-761-4664 |