I have a friend who conducts about a dozen job interviews each day, with a courteous hand-shake before and after each meet-up. With many of his interviews back-to-back, he doesn’t get a chance to properly wash his hands. So, between appointments, he squirts on hand sanitizer to prevent spreading germs from applicant to applicant.

He complains that his hands are raw from all the alcohol, but he considers it a necessary precaution. But is this quick wipe-up enough to protect him and the folks he interviews from spreading cold, flu, and H1N1 germs? Is hand sanitizer as effective as a good hand-washing? [Read more →]

Hooray for Global Handwashing Day! It couldn’t come at a better time, as cold and flu season sets in. Our busy hands are virus vectors and bacteria bait, and poor hand hygiene is one of the 8 sure-fire ways to catch a cold.

And congratulations to Canada! An international survey suggests that Canadians have the best understanding in the world of the role that good hygiene plays in preventing infection.

You may soon find yourself coughing, sneezing, and rubbing a runny nose, so now is as good a time as any to scrub up on your hand hygiene know-how. And if you’re a man, pay special attention! [Read more →]