Well, it looks like I was a couple years ahead of the curve on this one, but there is now some research to support what intuitively makes good sense: handshakes are unsanitary.
This is a release from the American Journal of Infection Control.
It doesn't say handshakes are unsantitary. It says that handshakes transmit more bacteria than the high five or fist bump.
Instead of focusing on changing how we interact as a society perhaps we should focus one thing that will save even more lives.
Well, it looks like I was a couple years ahead of the curve on this one, but there is now some research to support what intuitively makes good sense: handshakes are unsanitary.
This is a release from the American Journal of Infection Control.
lol yeah great idea, let's replace the handshake with a fist bump. Can't wait for the next parent-teacher day in my school ... god I'll fist bump the #### out of all those parents! "Hello Mr. Fischer, my brothaaaa ..."
Get the bacteria off your hands before the handshake.
I don't see why we can't do both.
Here's something else - for the first 20ish years of my life, it was normal to cover your mouth with your hand when you sneezed or coughed. Then five or so years ago the whole sneeze/cough into your elbow tactic replaced using your hand seemingly overnight. Once "we" decide to adopt another more sanitary way of doing things, I think people are pretty quick to embrace it.
Here's something else - for the first 20ish years of my life, it was normal to cover your mouth with your hand when you sneezed or coughed. Then five or so years ago the whole sneeze/cough into your elbow tactic replaced using your hand seemingly overnight. Once "we" decide to adopt another more sanitary way of doing things, I think people are pretty quick to embrace it.
Why not both is due to the effort and resistance people have to change. The handshake is a pretty ingrained and socially significant activity. Changing it would require a great deal of effort and cost which could be better spent on things with more measurable outcomes.
Now focused bans from professional groups like doctors and nurses would probably be worth the effort. As the consequences of germ spreading amongst these groups is higher.
And again the study used comparative language rather than actual numbers and didn't discuss potential for reduction of infections only that less bacteria leads to less infections.
Hand washing has good hard science behind it and until we get good at it it should be our only hygiene focused health initiative.
Well, it looks like I was a couple years ahead of the curve on this one, but there is now some research to support what intuitively makes good sense: handshakes are unsanitary.
This is a release from the American Journal of Infection Control.
I am shocked we needed a scientific study to tell us that people touching each others hands was unsanitary.
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Well, it looks like I was a couple years ahead of the curve on this one, but there is now some research to support what intuitively makes good sense: handshakes are unsanitary.
This is a release from the American Journal of Infection Control.
Occasionally while working (I am a transit operator), I will have a passenger that wants to shake my hand as they get off the bus. I don't understand why they want to, but it would be rude to not shake their hand so I do even though I have no idea where their hands have been. Oh well, that's why they put hand sanitizer on the buses.
I like the fist bump, and have been using it for a while since I'm so street you know... But there are times when you just have to shake someone's hand. Entering a big business meeting or sale? Bumps not going to do anything there.
I think the handshake could be lessened, minimized, but it will always be needed. Also, as was mentioned, we've recently changed how we sneeze (into the crook of your elbow, instead of your hand) so that probably helps a lot.
As has also been mentioned, not only is it impossible to live a completely sanitary lifestyle, you wouldn't want to. It would kill your immune system. You gotta get in there and get dirty every once in a while. In fact, there are more and more studies coming out recently that is showing our city sanitary lives is probably what's causing this huge uptick in allergies, especially peanut allergies. Kids need to get out and get messy. It's good for them.
But there are times when you just have to shake someone's hand. Entering a big business meeting or sale? Bumps not going to do anything there.
