06.apr.07
The Exponent Online (Indiana)
Adam Mestemacher
http://www.purdueexponent.org/index.php/module/Section/section_id/3/?module=article&story_id=5239
Adam Mestemacher, Freshman, School of Management, Purdue University, writes that every day you see students not washing their hands after using the restroom. The dismissal of hand washing needs to come to an end. The question is, "What can be done to prevent the spread of disease in restrooms at Purdue?" While getting students to wash their hands helps, there are still other possible solutions. One step that needs to be taken is to raise awareness about the problems in the rest rooms, including how meningitis and Hepatitis A are being spread from unwashed hands.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, only one third of people wash their hands after using the restroom. While the lack of hand washing is one problem, there are other problems surrounding the spread of disease including un-modernized facilities. Even if people wash their hands, they still become contaminated by turning off the faucet.
There are many solutions that can be taken to solve this problem. First, we must raise awareness of the problem and educate people on how to wash right. Second, we must try to update our facilities, which includes touchless fixtures such as faucets, soap dispensers and hand dryers. Finally, people must understand that it comes down to them to make the right decision.
With the cooperation of the Purdue students, the spread of disease can be prevented in restrooms. So next time you use the restroom, wash your hands.