Sanitary Facts for Restrooms
On average, one out of every three people does not wash his hands after leaving a public restroom facility. Combined with how frequently people use restroom facilities daily, sanitation in restrooms is vital to public health. Not following sanitation guidelines can contribute to the spread of flu, meningitis and other nasty illnesses.
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Public Restroom Features
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Toilet and sink Most public restrooms contain toilets, sinks, garbage cans, hand dryers, changing tables, mirrors, paper towels, antiseptic handwash, soap dispensers, urinals (in men's rooms) and vending machines dispensing tampons and sanitary napkins.
The toilets of public restrooms are located behind stalls with locked doors. Users of public restrooms generally touch handles for flushing, door pulls, locks and faucet handles--these can all hold germs on their surfaces.
Hand Washing Guidelines
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Washing hands is the most effective way to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that users wet hands with clean running water--warm water preferably--and apply soap. Rub hands to form a soapy lather and scrub all areas of the hands and wrists. Continue rubbing for twenty seconds before rinsing hands well. Dry hands with a paper towel or air dryer; if possible use the paper towel to turn off the faucet. Restroom users should always wash their hands after using the toilet in a public restroom facility.
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American Restroom Association
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The American Restroom Association (ARA) exists to advocate for clean, safe and well-designed restrooms in the United States. They research restroom design and technology, legislation and regulations pertaining to restrooms as well as the availability and accessibility of restrooms. The ARA often documents the problems faced by people scared of travel or activities that put them far away from proper toilet facilities.
Theories/Speculation
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In 2007, Dr. Dipak Chatterjee wrote in the Mumbai newspaper "Daily News and Analysis" that, given the health risks posed by public restrooms--from inefficient ventilation and poor drainage--that many should wear diapers instead of frequently using public toilets.
Public Restroom Directories
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There are a number of online public toilet directories available. For example, Publictoilets.org contains listings of public restrooms in over eighteen countries. Publictoilets.org also contains detailed information about the quality of each of the restrooms listed. Users can upload locations to the directory.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Public Restroom image by TekinT from Fotolia.com Toilet bowl and bidet in a toilet image by terex from Fotolia.com
