Wednesday, June 26, 2013
My latest rant about hand washing and hygiene, which I also think is over emphasized as a whole. I felt compelled to write this after using the public urinal at the airport last night, since I was wearing these thin khakis, and sandals, I felt every drop splashing back from the urinal, and also dotted up and down my khakis. It contained probably mostly my own urine, but also urine from the bowl that wasn't flushing properly.
So people who love their dogs, and kiss them on their lips, or let their dog lick their face, don't dogs lick their own assholes and balls when given the chance to do so? You can draw your own conclusion
How about people who wear their shoes in their own house, how much urine do you pick up on your shoes at the fancy restaurant bathroom, and poop from the park where you walk your dog?
Do you know of any animals that wash their hands, especially with chemicals or products? Besides having sticky fingers after I've dipped my hands in a bucket of KFC, or fingers into something else, there really is much reason for hand washing.
However we are so fascinated and fixated that washing our hands will somehow save a life, or that is the slogan at my work.
Reality check, the fact is in many parts of the world, people do not practice the same type of "personal hygiene" that we do here in the US. Same with halitosis, body odor, nose picking, burping, slurping, farting, or any other gastronomical feats. We have identified, and marketed products after our own ideas of perfection. However, you and I are not directly profiting monetarily from it or benefiting from it, unless you work for Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Pfizer, or Sanofi Ltd.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Wes, I have to respectfully disagree with some of this. While I do agree that handwashing just for the sake of handwashing is neurotic, handwashing before or after SPECIFIC events is effective. At home, before eating, after sneezing, after restroom use. For healthcare workers, after interacting with patients who are known to have highly pathogenic bacteria, and BEFORE interacting with patients who have catheters and other devices that break the skin's normal defenses. It protects them by reducing the number of pathogenic organisms. The lower the dose, the lower the frequency and severity of transmission of stomach, intestinal, and respiratory viruses in the home. Please also consider that handwashing is not meant to be consumer propaganda, either! The greatest good from handwashing does NOT come from any soaps, detergents, or alcohol rubs, but by the physical action of rubbing the skin with water flowing over to rinse away any bacteria or viruses that may have been picked up from what are called 'high touch' surfaces -- something that is frequently contacted by humans. You do not have to pay any pharmaceutical company for 20 seconds of handwashing under tap water. ;) There is no profit, but there is a benefit. There is a measurable difference in longevity and quality of life that handwashing helps contributes to, so please do not think that it is simply Western vanity. It does not fall into the same category as deodorant use, I promise. Thank you, -Heather-
ReplyDelete