Your Cell Phone, Or a Public Toilet Seat? What’s a Bigger Infection Risk?

Your family steps into an elevator, and you smile as your child eagerly reaches up to press the floor selection buttons.

But did you know an elevator button has 40 times more bacteria than a public toilet seat? And our ever-present cell phones are 10 times dirtier than a toilet seat?

Indeed, infectious disease-causing bacteria are everywhere this time of year. National Hand Washing Awareness Week, which takes place in December, helps remind us of the importance of hand washing to keep everyone healthy this season and always.

Hands Are a Culprit

It is a stunning statistic. Eighty percent of infectious diseases are transmitted by our hands. This can happen when we touch an infected surface, such as a mobile phone, elevator button, doorknob, or tablet. Later, we touch our eyes, nose, or mouth, providing a path of entry for any bacteria hitching a ride on our hands.

Diseases that can be transferred by contaminated hands include gastrointestinal infections such as Salmonella, and respiratory diseases such as Influenza and Coronavirus (COVID-19).

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that washing your hands can prevent about 30% of diarrhea-related sicknesses and about 20% of respiratory infections.

The Importance of P.A.W.S.

You can help your family stay healthy by encouraging to P.A.W.S. – please always wash and sanitize. According to the CDC here are some critical moments for hand washing:

• Before and after eating food
• After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet
• After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
• After and during outings in public spaces
• After visiting the restroom
• Before and after handling your child’s devices or toys
• After playing with pets

If someone in the household is sick or hospitalized, be sure to wash hands before and after contact with them or any items or surfaces they have touched and encourage others in the household or hospital visitors to do the same.

Hand Sanitation on the Go

Washing hands effectively is a disease-prevention best practice. If your family is on the go at the mall, grocery store, movie theater or other public space, alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR) can provide good protection. Carrying hand sanitizer and dispensing it to family members after touching surfaces in public spaces can help keep everyone safe.

The CDC recommends using ABHR that contains at least 60% alcohol. You can tell if the sanitizer contains at least 60% alcohol by looking at the product label. Apply it to your hands and vigorously rub them together for a duration of 20 seconds, ensuring you cover all surfaces of your hands until they are completely dry.

Best-Practice Hand Washing

Washing hands with soap and water is the best way to get rid of germs in most situations or if hands are visibly soiled.

Here are steps for effective hand washing:

1. Turn on the faucet and rinse your hands with clean running water.
2. Use soap (liquid is best!) to scrub your hands, including your palms, the top of your hands, between fingers and under fingernails. Don’t forget wrists!
3. Scrub for 20 seconds. Not sure how long that is? Sing the birthday song twice while washing to ensure the correct duration.
4. Rinse soap completely from your hands with warm or cold water. Once finished, dry your hands with a clean towel, paper towel or air dryer.
5. Turn off the faucet with a clean paper towel.

Our hand washing video shows how!