09.16.04
Americans are up to their elbows in grime, and they're not doing enough about it, according to TheSoap and Detergent Association's (SDA) "2004 clean hands report card." The report card gaveAmericans a "C" for hand hygiene.
The SDA produced the Report Card to raise awareness of National Clean Hands Week, Sept.19-25. Thisa national health campaign touts handwashing as the easiest path to staying healthy. "Most infectiousdiseases are spread by contact, either person-to-person, or by touching surfaces harboring germs," saidU.S. Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona. "Proper hand cleaning is the best prevention againstcommunicable illness."
The National Cleaning survey revealed 43% of respondents seldom or never wash their hands aftercoughing or sneezing, 32% don't always wash before eating lunch and 54% don't wash their hands longenough to effectively remove germs and dislodge dirt. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC) and SDA recommend washing with soap for at least 20 seconds.
Though 90% of Americans surveyed said they always washed their hands after using the bathroom, a2003 observational study by the American Society for Microbiology found as many as 33% of publicrestroom users did not wash their hands.
More women (60%) believe handwashing is a top way to prevent colds and flu than men (42%). Womenalso were ahead in handwashing frequency: they washed their hands an average of nine times a day,while men washed an average of six times daily. More info: www.cleaning101.com.
The SDA produced the Report Card to raise awareness of National Clean Hands Week, Sept.19-25. Thisa national health campaign touts handwashing as the easiest path to staying healthy. "Most infectiousdiseases are spread by contact, either person-to-person, or by touching surfaces harboring germs," saidU.S. Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona. "Proper hand cleaning is the best prevention againstcommunicable illness."
The National Cleaning survey revealed 43% of respondents seldom or never wash their hands aftercoughing or sneezing, 32% don't always wash before eating lunch and 54% don't wash their hands longenough to effectively remove germs and dislodge dirt. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC) and SDA recommend washing with soap for at least 20 seconds.
Though 90% of Americans surveyed said they always washed their hands after using the bathroom, a2003 observational study by the American Society for Microbiology found as many as 33% of publicrestroom users did not wash their hands.
More women (60%) believe handwashing is a top way to prevent colds and flu than men (42%). Womenalso were ahead in handwashing frequency: they washed their hands an average of nine times a day,while men washed an average of six times daily. More info: www.cleaning101.com.