--- title: Hand Washing date: 2006-05-23T14:56:26-07:00 author: Bill Marler canonical_url: "https://marlerclark.com/news_events/hand-washing" section: News --- [All News](/news_events) / # Hand Washing By: Cindy Andrews 10:24 AM Monday, May 22nd, 2006 Is it really important? Some amazing facts: Only 40 % of the adult population worldwide routinely washes their hands after using the toilet. Women tend to comply more frequently than men. The reasoning for this is time, resources (such as no soap or water available), and just plain laziness. More facts: One out of four adults does not wash their hands after changing a diaper. Fewer than half of the people wash after touching their pets or cleaning up after them. After sneezing or coughing only one in three people wash their hands. Many germs are transmitted by food handlers who do not wash their hands after using the toilet. This can occur in the home or on the job such as at a restaurant. This unsanitary practice can cause severe illnesses including diarrhea and hepatitis. The leading cause of infection and illness is poor hand washing. The CDC (Center for Disease Control) has determined that the most important thing you can do to prevent illness is to wash your hands. A study conducted by the University of Geneva, over a four year period, indicated infection rates decreased by 50% in individuals who adhered to a strict hand washing routine. When soap and water are unavailable, alcohol based hand rubs can be successfully substituted. The use of these only takes 15-20 seconds as compared to hand washing that takes 1-1.5 minutes. Next time you greet one another in a Church setting, rather than saying Good Morning or Peace be with you, you might be silently saying “Thanks a lot for your flu or cold”. To keep from catching that flu or cold you may want to just practice what this writer does and privately use your alcohol based rub after the greeting. ### Other Hepatitis A Lawsuits [La Serranita Concha Negra Frozen Clam Hepatitis A Outbreak Lawsuits](https://marlerclark.com/la-serranita-concha-negra-frozen-clam-hepatitis-a-outbreak-lawsuits) [Washington and California Hepatitis A Outbreak linked to Imported Strawberries](https://marlerclark.com/washington-hepatitis-a-outbreak-linked-to-imported-strawberries) [Hepatitis A outbreak - Strawberries sicken 27 in Canada and United States](https://marlerclark.com/hepatitis-a-outbreak-strawberries-sicken-27-in-canada-and-united-states) [Gino's Ristorante & Pizzeria linked to Hepatitis A Outbreak](https://marlerclark.com/ginos-ristorante-pizzeria-linked-to-hepatitis-a-outbreak) [Famous Anthony's Hepatitis A Outbreak; 52 sick, 36 hospitalized and 4 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