Public restrooms can be filthy places.
You've been there. We all have. Waiting in line in a small, cringe-inducing public restroom for a stall or urinal to become available. That's just one public restroom nightmare. Such places have a bad reputation, and for good reason, as they can be among the most germ-filled places around. Harmful organisms found in public restrooms include strep and staph germs, E. coli and shigella bacteria, hepatitis A and rhinoviruses, and organisms that can cause sexually transmitted diseases.
Toilet Seat Myths
Many people view the toilet seat as Public Enemy No. 1. People sitting on it all day, creating a breeding ground for harmful organisms. However, toilet seats generally are not responsible for transmitting infections. Organisms cannot live very long on a porcelain seat, and in most cases it is not easy for organisms to enter the body from that location.
Sink
The sink and faucet handles are the real germ-infested culprits of the public restroom, according to MedicineNet.com. Sinks create the perfect environment for colonies of harmful organisms. The accumulation of running water makes a sink a viral and bacterial breeding ground. People usually flush toilets with their shoes, but they do not hesitate to turn on faucets with dirty hands. When you follow them and turn on the faucet, you receive their germs, and if you don't wash you hands properly, you keep them.
Hygiene
To help avoid being affected by harmful organisms in public restrooms, use proper hand-washing techniques. Always use soap, and run your soapy hands and fingers under hot water for 20 to 30 seconds. If time permits, repeat this process. The friction from rubbing your hands and fingers together helps loosen bacteria that could be on your hands. Use a paper towel to turn off the faucet to avoid re-contaminating your hands.
Immune System
Your immune system is one of the best defenses you have against being infected with harmful organisms from public restroom facilities. The immune system is complex, and works to fight off organisms that could be harmful. Though public restrooms are always filled with germs, how your body reacts to these organisms depends not only on your hygiene, but on how well equipped you are to fight them. It is not possible to be 100 percent germ-free.
Tips
To reduce your contact with harmful organisms, flush the toilet with your shoe instead of your bare hand. Use a paper towel to shut off the water and open the door after you wash your hands. If you use a hot air dryer, be careful not to get too close to the vent. If possible, use stalls that have the toilet paper holder covered to prevent germs from splashing water. Leave the stall immediately after flushing the toilet to avoid a microscopic mist of harmful organisms.
Tags: harmful organisms, public restroom, your hands, public restrooms, breeding ground, hands fingers