• MystikIncarnate@lemmy.ca
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    10 months ago

    The correct way to handle this would be to use a disposable paper product. Most places still have a paper towel dispenser along side the air hand dryer, you’re supposed to use that.

    Besides the point, most people don’t know how to properly wash and dry their hands. There’s a technique to both that actually improves cleanliness a lot and reduces overall waste.

    I never use air based hand dryers. Paper towel for life. Some places use maze patterns instead of doors, which I generally like but usually requires some extra work with air handling to make sure the bathroom air stays in the bathroom, and a bit more floor space to provide the room for the maze pattern. Those restrooms are usually the ones without paper towel, I don’t mind, I just have moist hands for a few minutes afterwards.

    All of this can be googled. So I won’t go into more detail, but the majority of people couldn’t possibly give fewer fucks about handwashing or hand drying properly. So I expect most won’t even try to learn how to do things better, ever. They just go with whatever their parents taught them as a child and never question it again. Bluntly, your parents probably did the same, so you’re probably working off of 50+ year old advice on hand washing.

    • Daefsdeda@sh.itjust.works
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      10 months ago

      Yes, yes and yes. Do you also do laboratory work? Ive always found these hygiene important but, now i notice how nasty all things get since ive started doing lab work and especially when working with diseases

      • MystikIncarnate@lemmy.ca
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        10 months ago

        Nope, I’m an IT guy with a nurse for a wife. I’ve taken first aid (including proper handwashing) for about 30 years being a member of St. John’s ambulance for a long time in there.

        It’s been beaten over my head for most of my life. Looking into it, the rabbit hole goes deeper. I also found a TED style talk (may have been TEDx? I forget) talking about the best way to dry your hands while using as few paper towels as possible.

        I know I’ve only really scratched the surface with what I could know on the topic. I also understand that there’s helpful “germs” on your skin, and over washing or over use of hand sanitizer can be detrimental to skin health and long term health; of course with a huge number of caveats that are just so far outside of the scope of what I’m trying to say.

        Looping back on topic, I’m a science nerd, first-aid trained, very curious and knowledge seeking individual with a large exposure to medical people. Hygiene is very important.

        • Daefsdeda@sh.itjust.works
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          10 months ago

          Cool background and understandable how that came to be. It is also important to get some exposure to the “bad” germs but that is a hard balance so I just see toilet areas as a big no no.

          • MystikIncarnate@lemmy.ca
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            10 months ago

            Indeed.

            In addition, I find that a stunning number of folks are okay with either simply rinsing their hands with only water, or not washing their hands at all. Disgusting.

            I often don’t shake people’s hands, or at least sanitize after shaking hands because I don’t know who washes up after using the restroom and who has shit on their hands.