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| Ladies Bathroom at Publix on Fowler |
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| Ladies Bathroom at Publix on Fowler |
Public Health surrounds us and affects our everyday life. Although we as a society do not pay particular attention to it, Public Health’s benefits and efforts have influenced us and the environment in which we live in tremendously. If Public Health were not to exist, the life we live would have similar to the life of those that lived in the 17th century, with a higher mortality rate and wide spread of disease. When asked what public health is, most people stammer in confusion grasping for ways to explain it. By participating in this blog, we are learning that public health is everywhere and is symbolized by the most basic things we do, such as washing our hands.
For our health blog, we decided to choose the public bathrooms at Publix on Fowler Avenue in Tampa, Florida. This was a demonstration of conserving community health and preventing the spread of diseases in a widely visited place. In public bathrooms, especially where food is directly handled, it is required that employee’s must wash their hands before returning to work. A way in which this information is implemented is by posting signs in the bathrooms reminding employees not to forget this vital part of maintaining health all around. By doing this, employees are not only abiding by the rules and keeping the public safe from preventable contamination, they are also keeping themselves safe. In general, people know to wash their hands after using the bathroom to keep themselves from getting germs and getting sick; it has been a health campaign promotion during the influenza season. When the message is there in front of them, it serves as a reminder for those who otherwise neglect to wash their hands or forget to.
Washing one’s hands frequently is important in that it could help prevent the spread of illness such as virus or bacteria to a community. Imagine if a worker from the deli, meats or bakery section went to the bathroom and did not wash his hands; then, made your sandwich, or sliced your meats or began baking a cake for you with their germ infected hands! Besides the obvious disgust at such a neglect of respect to another, there are obvious health concerns and the spread of communicable diseases to the public. Diseases that could have been prevented by simply washing hands now has harmed a person’s health. By having this sign up in these public bathrooms, public health is making an effort to prevent infectious diseases from spreading drastically especially in these places where food is handled. These efforts, though not always acknowledged, are greatly appreciated.
According to the Minnesota Department of Health, 97% of females and 92% of males attested to washing their hands after using the bathroom, however, it was shown that of these statistics, only 75% of females and 58% of males actually wash their hands.
The Center for Disease Control advices one, when washing their hands, to use clean, warm water while generously lathering soap. Then rubbing hands together meticulously for 20 seconds before washing away the soap and cleaning hands with a clean cloth. So, when you happen to look up and spot a sign saying, “Employees Must Wash Hands” at a public bathroom one day, know that this is how we, as a society, effectively prevent infectious diseases from spreading. Also, know that ‘This is Public Health’... at it’s finest!
Thank You,
Leonne Danso, Chelsea Gomes & Johanna Comargo
As a Publix employee I ALWAYS wash my hands after using the bathroom. Although I'm not sure about my male co-workers, I have never witnessed any employees in the women's bathroom skip washing their hands. In fact, sometimes I will go to the bathroom, for the sole purpose of washing my hands. Even though all cashiers are provided with hand sanitizing wipes at the registers, there is nothing that can replace that "clean" feeling of washing your hands with soap and water. Not only do I want to prevent the spread of harmful bacteria and viruses but I also want to avoid getting dirty looks from customers!
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