hand-washing

As H1N1 flu marches across college campuses this fall, students are hearing a simple message about how to protect themselves: Wash your hands. But getting them to comply may be far more complicated.

During an infectious disease outbreak at a Canadian university in 2006, researchers found that students frequently failed to clean their hands before going into the cafeteria--even though there was a hand sanitizer and poster by the door instructing them not to enter unless they washed up. According to the study, which appears in the current issue of the Journal of Environmental Health, 83% of the students said they practiced proper hand hygiene. Yet they actually did so less than 20% of the time.

The researchers say one problem is that the "wash your hands" messages posted on campus weren't compelling enough. So how do you get students' attention? Gross them out. At least that's what another study on hand-washing found. As this video shows, when messages such as, "You just peed, wash your hands," were posted in bathrooms at the University of Denver, hand-washing rates went up.

This kind of in-your-face approach isn't limited to hygiene messages. It's also being used in Great Britain to warn kids about the dangers of texting while driving. Police in Wales have produced a gory video, which has become a YouTube sensation, showing a deadly accident caused by a teen texter.

Health officials in New York City are also trying to shock people--
in this case adults -- with posters on subways. A picture shows disgusting globs of fat pouring from a soda bottle, along with the message "Don't drink yourself fat." The campaign, which will run through the fall, aims to get people to cut back on soda and other sugary beverages.

Not all health educators agree that provoking shock and disgust is an effective way to change behavior. But if the result is that even a few more students wash their hands or put away their cell phones in the car, it's worth the effort. At the very least, it makes those health messages a lot more entertaining.

With swine flu dominating the headlines, there's lots of talk about how best to protect ourselves from this and other infectious diseases. Health experts continue to repeat what our mothers always told us: Wash your hands. It's among the most effective steps we can take.

Most of us hear this and think "yep, check, I do that." But in fact, too often we fall short when it comes to hand-washing and needlessly expose ourselves to germs and illness that might have been avoided with a bit more diligence.

Below are seven common hand-washing mistakes. How many do you make? (Be honest!)

1. Not washing often enough. In a telephone survey, 92% of adults said they washed their hands after using public restrooms. But when researchers watched, they found that only 77% of people actually did so. Clean your hands not only at obvious times such as after using the bathroom - or changing a diaper, handling garbage, or before eating, for example - but also anytime you've touched surfaces that might harbor germs. These include doorknobs in public places, gym equipment, and seats and poles on public transportation. And to protect others, don't forget to wash your hands after blowing your nose or coughing or sneezing into your hands.

2. Not washing long enough. Too often, we're in a hurry and devote too little time to the task. It's important to wash at least 15 to 20 seconds, which can seem longer than you think. If you're too impatient to count seconds, try following the advice given to kids and sing your ABCs.

3. Not washing thoroughly enough. Just sticking your hands under the faucet doesn't cut it. Use warm, running water and liquid soap or clean bar soap. Scrub all surfaces, including backs of hands, between fingers, and under fingernails. The scrubbing, along with running water, helps dislodge germs.

4. Relying on antibacterial soaps. The label "antibacterial" gives the impression that these soaps are more effective in killing germs, but actually they're not. Using them can be detrimental if it lulls you into a false sense of security and makes you less diligent about hand-washing. Also, there are concerns that antibacterial soaps may lead to the development of bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics.

5. Not drying your hands. If you leave the sink with wet hands - something many of us frequently do - you haven't completed the job. Germs thrive in moist environments, so you need to dry your hands with a clean towel or air dryer. If neither is immediately available, try to locate a clean napkin or cloth and remove moisture as soon as possible.

6. Touching restroom surfaces after washing. Faucets and other surfaces in public restrooms are full of germs, so putting your clean hands on them can undermine even the best hand-washing efforts. After you wash, avoid contact with restroom surfaces by using a towel to turn off the faucet and open the door.

7. Using ineffective hand sanitizers. Hand sanitizers are a great option if you don't have access to soap and water. Not all products are effective, though. Some may smell clean, but they don't contain enough alcohol to kill germs. Look for brands that have at least 60 percent alcohol. Use about a half-teaspoon and rub over all parts of your hands until they're dry.

Think you have all this down? Try this fun interactive quiz to test your knowledge of hand-washing and germs in general.

While it's essential to be vigilant, we also don't want to get carried away and become paranoid about germs. Here's an entertaining take on the subject from comedian Brian Frazer. Enjoy.