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Public Restroom Germ Protection Is Mostly A Matter Of Education And Common Sense

By Larry Jackson


If you ask people where they are most likely to pick up harmful germs, most of them will cite public restrooms. They have legitimate concerns because bacteria thrives in moist conditions and organic waste. The danger of getting an STD in one of these bathroom is fairly slim because the lifespan of the viruses are limited outside the body. You are more likely to get salmonella and shigellosis by coming into contact with handles and faucets. Avoiding them is possible. Public restroom germ protection is a matter of common sense.

The importance of washing your hands cannot be overstated. It's hard to believe, but only about two thirds of patrons of communal bathrooms actually use soap and water after exiting the stalls. Drying your hands thoroughly can be as important as washing them. Bacteria can live on in moist palms. Air dryers often don't completely remove moisture, so paper towels are your best bet.

If you have ever used a communal bathroom, only to come out of the stall and find there are no paper towels or soap, you know how irritating something like that is. It's also unsanitary. Checking when you first enter a bathroom is the best idea. That way you can leave and flag down a manager or waiter to ask that the supplies be replenished.

You may never have considered it, but not all stalls are alike. Which one you choose can matter. Whoever does such studies has concluded that the first stall is the most desirable. It is the least often used, so it tends to be cleaner and better stocked.

If you are like most public bathroom patrons, sitting directly on the toilet seat is unacceptable. Hovering solves the problem unless that is something you find difficult to do. If the stall has a toilet liner dispenser, you could use it. For those who hate to depend on a communal toilet having liners, bringing your own in a purse or tote is a good option.

Public bathrooms are no place for bare feet. Even flip flops are too flimsy to provide adequate protection from bacteria that is probably all over the bathroom floor. People flush the toilets, but you have no way of knowing when the floor was last mopped. Real shoes, with enclosed toes, are your best bet to avoid harmful germs.

If possible use your elbow instead of your hand to raise and lower door handles. Handles can be loaded with bacteria, so they are never really safe to touch. If you use your hand to turn on the sink faucet, turn it off with a paper towel instead of your washed hand. Keeping hand sanitizer in your purse is a great idea. It will provide you with an extra layer of protection.

Public bathrooms are a convenience, and most people are willing to use them. They can be safe too, if you are smart about what you touch. If these facilities put you off, going to the bathroom before you leave home is the best way to avoid them.




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