Posted by Clint Combs on December 28, 2009 at 12:30pm
We had some people over for the holidays and after they left, my wife went to tidy up our guest bathroom. Before they arrived, she had put a new carefully folded Christmas towel on the rack. Although all of our guests used the bathroom at some point in the evening (some more than once), she discovered that neither that towel nor others on the washstand had been touched.None of our guests had washed their hands!Failure to wash one’s hands is not all that uncommon among the general population. I see many men leave public restrooms at movie theatres, airports, and sports arenas without first washing their hands. It is such a common site that I generally don’t think much about it.An unusual observationLast year while attending the Western Pool and Spa show, I noticed something strange. Every single pool man that I saw in the restroom, over the course of the three day event, washed their hands before leaving.Why would these pool men wash their hands 100% of the time, while in the general population, the rate is much less?Then I recalled my CPO (Certified Pool Operator) training, and I began to reflect on how unique a pool guy’s expertise is. Pool guys know about both sanitization and filtration, and both of these are key.SanitizationIn the CPO course we learned that E. coli is a strain of bacteria that lives naturally and harmlessly in the lower intestines of healthy humans. Problems arise, however, if E. coli gets ingested. Then, it is out of place in the entrance to our digestive system and causes problems such as diarrhea, nausea, and stomach cramps.Now, some people might think that a well placed piece of toilet paper will keep the E. coli that is in human waste from contaminating one’s fingers. If their hands look clean they may figure they don’t need to wash them. But, to see why this logic is flawed, let’s look at another area of pool guy expertise.FiltrationE. coli is a bacteria that is about 1 micron in diameter; this is incredibly tiny. It is so small that it can pass through even the finest DE pool filter that can only filter down to about 4 microns. It will also easily pass through a paper pool cartridge filter that can only filter to about 15 microns. Now, let us assume that toilet paper can filter as well as a paper cartridge filter (even though it probably is not this good). To a 1 micron E. coli bacteria, a 15 micron filter looks as wide open as an open garage door looks to a human. The bacteria just goes right through. I wonder if most doctors and nurses trained in sanitization, but in not filtration, even think about this.The pool guy’s unique expertiseThe pool guy’s unique combination of knowledge of sanitization combined with knowledge of filtration probably explains why all the pool guys at the convention washed their hands after using the restroom. As pool guys, we need to share our unique expertise with a wider audience. Public health depends upon it.Here’s to a healthier 2010!
Clint, Great analogy. As a public health educator and CPO instructor, I am always looking for simple, straight-forward ways to explain complex processes. Your comparison of a filter and an open garage door provide great 'visuals' for the listener to better understand the micorscopic. I hope to use your story in the future.
My observation of hand washing and the general public is somewhat limited. but it does gross me out when at lunch folks on the crew use the facilities and then glibbly eat at the table w/me without washing.
Because we deal and touch so many yuck things in our line of work I give all the new guys the'STAPH,PNUEMONIA,T.B. briefing. I then point out where the hand sanitizer is kept in the truck and caution them about not touching their eyes. I also ask if the supply is low to let me know. Get some strange looks at first but I think it helps.
Clint, Wes,
Just wondering...... is it our CPO training, or disgust at the unsavory places we routinely put our hands that trains the pool guy to wash,wash,wash. Some days I am like the microbiologist when BEFORE may be more critical than after! LoL Just a thought.
One of my good friends is a Microbiologist and the running joke with him is: a microbiologist washes their hands before and after going to the bathroom. While a biologist only washes afterward. A lot to be learned from that statement I suppose. I know after my CPO training, I was much more aware of when and how I washed.
I agree, I have noticed that at Home Depot most (75%) don't wash their hands. I wash my hands and after I dry with the paper towel I use the paper towel to open the door. What is wrong with people. even if they think that they didn't get any on them, what about the door or the handle. People just wash your hands
I love your research method! :) At work we are constantly washing our hands plus have a GermX on every counter. Interacting with 100's of ppl is great for business but really increases the odds of picking up a germ that someone failed to wash off!
a very curious observation Clint. In raising a 6 yo boy, we are always stressing, wash your hands, sing the alphabet song. Its not the stuff you see that'll get you, its the small stuff that you can't see that'll get you sick.
-Jeremy I fix broken pools, spas, and hot tubs
Florida Leisure Pool & Spa www.FLLeisure.com
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Comments
Because we deal and touch so many yuck things in our line of work I give all the new guys the'STAPH,PNUEMONIA,T.B. briefing. I then point out where the hand sanitizer is kept in the truck and caution them about not touching their eyes. I also ask if the supply is low to let me know. Get some strange looks at first but I think it helps.
Just wondering...... is it our CPO training, or disgust at the unsavory places we routinely put our hands that trains the pool guy to wash,wash,wash. Some days I am like the microbiologist when BEFORE may be more critical than after! LoL Just a thought.
Fascinating observations! Really cool.
One of my good friends is a Microbiologist and the running joke with him is: a microbiologist washes their hands before and after going to the bathroom. While a biologist only washes afterward. A lot to be learned from that statement I suppose. I know after my CPO training, I was much more aware of when and how I washed.
-Jeremy
I fix broken pools, spas, and hot tubs
Florida Leisure Pool & Spa
www.FLLeisure.com