This Registers High on the ICK! Scale

***If you don't like the mention of bodily functions you might want to close your eyes today.***

I have worked my entire life in public health - no I'm not a doctor or nurse.  But before that, I learned at a very young age about the importance of handwashing.  Handwashing is one of the single best things you can do for yourself to protect against germs.  This fall, as the Swine Flu (oops I mean H1N1) reappears with a vengence, you will be reminded over and over again about the importance of, among other things, simple handwashing.

But my attention, via another board I read, was brought to the fact that there are people who don't wash their hands.  But, whats worse is  that some of those people actually FAKE it!!!!!!  (OK - There are certain things that just invite faking - but handwashing??) EEEeeeeewwwwww!  Is it really worth faking?  It only takes a minute and isn't all that difficult.  There is at least one website dedicated to those who partake in "Fake Handwashing".  There may be more but after reading the posts at this one site, my 50 year old heart just couldn't take anymore and I didn't look any further.  (If you're interested in seeing it I can send you the link - I do't want to post it here because I really don't want to promote it in anyway)

By reading the posts, it sounds like teenagers who think it is funny.  Apparantly there is some sort of sport to it - they go to the bathroom and then leave without washing.  They brag about going through the motions by running water and rumpling up towels to make others think they have washed.  OMG!!  I get the whole "pee is supposedly sterile" thing but there is other stuff down there that isn't and no matter how clean you are or how careful you are - there is a potential for contamination.  And I get that your hands get dried out in the wintertime - that's what hand cream is for! What bothers me is that they aren't just putting thierselves at risk - but those around them because other people may touch the same surfaces (like the bathroom door handle).  I have never been one to be particularly bothered about what a person chooses to do to themselves - but when it affects other people - then I mind (thus the public health regulator in me).

Over the years I have constantly been amazed at the lengths people will go to get out of doing certain things things.  But this one takes the proverbial prize!!  I just had to rant about that somewhere and get it off my chest - I feel better now!  Thanks for listening!