Our Maine Street's Aroostook Issue 18 : Fall 2013 | Page 80

So by now you may be saying to yourself, “OK, when I • Before, during, and after preparing food
touch something in the bathroom, I’ll wash my hands.”
• Before eating food
• Before and after caring for someone who is sick
While that’s a great start, consider this:
• Before and after treating a cut or wound
• Two-thirds of shopping carts handles tested as part of • After using the toilet
a study at the University of Arizona were contaminated • After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has
with fecal bacteria. In fact, the bacterial counts on the
used the toilet
carts exceeded those of the average public restroom.
• After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
• Nearly every surface at a children’s playground contains • After touching an animal or animal waste
traces of blood, mucus, saliva, or urine.
• After handling pet food or pet treats
• According to the National Science Foundation, 32 • After touching garbage
percent of all counter-tops, 45 percent of sinks, and
77 percent of kitchen sponges test positive for coliform And lastly, the correct way to wash your hands according to
bacteria, which causes food poisoning symptoms.
the CDC is:
• Cell phones can have as much E. coli as a toilet bowl.
1. Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or
• Staph germs are found on 14 percent of refrigerator cold) and apply soap.
handles.
2. Rub your hands together to make lather and scrub them
• Toothbrush holders have over a thousand times more well; be sure to scrub the backs of your hands, between your
bacteria than a toilet seat.
fingers, and under your nails.
• A typical kitchen sink has more than 500,000 bacteria 3. Continue rubbing your hands for at least 20 seconds.
per square inch around the drain.
Need a timer? Hum the “Happy Birthday” song from
• Most airplane bathrooms have traces of E. coli on the beginning to end twice.
faucets and door handles.
4. Rinse your hands well un \