TOMORROW’S CLEANING AUGUST 09
The solution is
in your hands
With issues such as swine flu Sneeze into empty space instead you will to 24 hours. So it makes sense to avoid
reminding us of all of the need to
transfer the germs on to surfaces that another contaminating these surfaces in the
avoid infections, SCA Tissue
person may pick up simply by touching first place.
that surface.
Europe’s Charlotte Branwhite
The best way to prevent the spread of
looks at how a good hand
The facts infections is to adhere to the Government’s
A study carried out by the University of Virginia “Catch it, Bin it, Kill it” campaign and cover
hygiene system can minimise the
in 2006 revealed that viruses such as colds the nose and mouth with a tissue when
risk of cross-contamination in the and flu could easily be transferred to 35 per coughing or sneezing. The tissue should then
away-from-home washroom.
cent of everyday surfaces such as door be disposed of immediately and the hands
handles, pens, light switches, TV remote should be washed thoroughly to prevent the
controls and taps - and continue to spread of germs, according to the campaign’s
Recent figures suggest that more 100,000 new contaminate them long after first contact. teachings.
cases are expected each week in the UK.
Swine solutions
With the first deaths also having occurred in It is in the public’s interest that
this country, people are understandably
away-from-home washrooms
nervous of catching the infection. But as we
should provide effective, efficient
know, if there is a cold or flu virus going
and user-friendly handwashing
around in our area we are more or less bound
facilities to encourage better hand
to catch it.
hygiene practices among
washroom users.
Or are we? In fact by arming ourselves with a
little knowledge and by taking care not to pick up
Mild soaps that are pleasant to use,
– or spread - the infection, we may yet manage
such as Tork Premium mild and
to keep ourselves and our families’ safe.
extra mild liquid soap, can help to
promote handwashing, but
The importance of hand hygiene and its role in
The study, which took place in hotel rooms,
thorough drying is at least as important as
preventing the spread of infection is more
found that anyone touching a surface within an
washing since damp hands spread 500 times
important now than ever. Swine flu, like any
hour of contamination had a 60 per cent
the amount of bacteria as
other kind of flu, can be easily passed from
chance of picking up a cold virus. The risk of dry hands.
one person to another via tiny droplets in a contamination gradually diminished over time,
Studies carried out in hospitals have revealed
cough or sneeze. You may cover your nose and but even after 18 hours there was a 33 per cent
that hand hygiene among staff will improve
mouth with your hand when you sneeze, but
chance of the next hotel guest becoming
when softer towels – such as Tork Premium
you will leave behind germs on your hand that
infected.
interfold towels - are provided. This is because
may subsequently be transferred to another
According to the National Health Service, the softer towels can be used more frequently
person via a handshake, a door handle,
swine flu virus can live on a soft surface for
without causing chapping and soreness, which
a telephone or a shared keyboard. around 20 minutes and a hard surface for up
is a risk with harsher, more abrasive towels.
continued on page 30>
The future of our cleaning industry | TOMORROW’S CLEANING |
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