You're not as clean as you think

In a commercial for Dial soap, a dog is lapping up toilet water when he hears its owner opening the door. She greets the dog as it licks her all over her face. Then, the punch line: "You're not as clean as you think."\nEver stepped out of a bathroom stall and watched someone else leave without even a glance at the sink? Much like the dog in the commercial, these people remind me daily that I'm not as clean as I'd like to believe.\nThese people are preparing meals at fast food restaurants, handing out money at banks and shaking your hand before job interviews. And the dangers may be greater than you'd even like to realize.\n"Most cases of diarrhea and vomiting are caused by germs acquired through inadequate hand washing. Pneumonia and influenza, the sixth leading causes of death in the United States, can be acquired the same way," according to the Mayo Clinic's Web site. The site also lists hepatitis among diseases that can be passed because someone didn't want to take the time to wash their hands. \nBut it's probably not that big of a problem. I mean, how many people truly don't wash their hands after using a public restroom? A lot, according to www.washup.org, a Web site designed by the American Society of Microbiology to promote its Clean Hands Campaign. \n"Despite an ever increasing threat from antibiotic resistant 'superbugs' and emerging new microbial illnesses, at least one-third of Americans appear to have forgotten the single best piece of infection control advice Mom ever gave them -- always wash your hands after you go to the bathroom. While 95 percent of men and women surveyed say they wash their hands after using a public restroom, only 67 percent of people actually do wash before leaving the restroom."\nThe society conducted observational research in public restrooms in New York City, Chicago, New Orleans, San Francisco and Atlanta in 2000. The study also revealed that women were more likely to wash up than men. \nWhile the society launched the Clean Hands Campaign to educate America on the sickening effects of not washing up after using a toilet, there are a few steps you can take to make sure you're keeping yourself safe.\nThe Mayo Clinic Web site gives these guidelines for proper hand washing:\n• Use soap and running water. \n• Rub your hands vigorously as you wash them. \n• Wash all surfaces, including backs of hands, wrists, between fingers and under fingernails. \n• Rinse well and leave the water running until after drying hands. \n• Dry hands with a single-use towel. \n• Turn off faucet using a paper towel.\nIf your own hygiene isn't the problem, but you're concerned about your friends and family, make sure they aren't giving you the diseases they picked up at their last gas station stop.\nAt www.gentlesuggestions.com, you can place an order for an anonymous letter to be sent to someone you know who has a hand-washing problem.\nThe Web site says the "politely written letter … explains the benefits of good hygiene and how we need to wash our hands often to avoid spreading germs." \nThey'll even throw in a bar of soap or send it by e-mail if you'd like.\nSo, keep yourself healthy: Wash up and encourage people you know to do the same. Just remember, you're not as clean as you think.