Even if your mother didn’t constantly remind you to wash your hands, you definitely know that you should. The world is a giant petri dish filled with bacteria, viruses, and other nasties that we would all rather avoid. Unfortunately, it’s easy to spread sicknesses around — especially if you’re not taking the right precautions. Today, with coronavirus making the headlines, it’s more important than ever. Handwashing stations drastically reduces sickness and illnesses around the world. Just take a look at these figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
- Reduces the number of people who get sick with diarrhea by 23-40%
- Reduces diarrheal illness in people with weakened immune systems by 58%
- Reduces respiratory illnesses, like colds, in the general population by 16-21%
- Reduces absenteeism due to gastrointestinal illness in schoolchildren by 29-57%
And that’s just on the surface. There are so many wildly beneficial side effects of handwashing. One major issue that is affecting everyone in the world right now is antibiotic resistance. Many infections and sicknesses occur as a direct result of people not washing their hands. Because of this, there has been a rise in unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions. This leads to an increase in antibiotic resistance — which is a serious problem for everyone, including you.
All world-saving issues aside — there are some pretty disgusting things that can happen if you don’t have a handwashing station paired with your portable restrooms. So, what did we do? We made a list. Here are the 6 most downright dirty things that can happen if you don’t wash your hands.
1. Poop In Your Food
Yeah, we said it. When portable restrooms are manufactured, delivered, or freshly cleaned they actually extremely sanitary, [Portable Restroom Myths Blog coming soon!] that being said — due to improper use, you could end up with either your, or someone else’s fecal matter on your hands. Many people use portable restrooms at events, concerts, festivals, and fairs — where they are also going to be eating finger foods. If you don’t wash your hands…well, you get the picture. Handwashing stations in or near your portable restrooms will keep everyone’s food safe.
2. Pink Eye
If you have ever had this infection, you know just how annoying and gross it can be. Pink eye, otherwise known as conjunctivitis, is an eye infection that is most common with kids. It’s especially contagious and only takes one eye itch to get it. The best way to prevent it is to keep your hands clean.
3. Food Poisoning
As we said, portable restrooms are common at festivals and other celebrations where food may be prepared and served. This makes handwashing stations an absolute necessity. Most foodborne illnesses are spread from contaminated hands, but this can be easily combatted by washing your hands. You certainly don’t want people handling food without handwashing stations nearby.
4. Hepatitis A
This is a virus that you do not want to mess with. The hepatitis A virus causes the contagious hepatitis A infection — which affects the liver and can be extremely dangerous. It mostly spreads from eating or drinking something that is contaminated by fecal matter — which means it can be easily prevented by thoroughly washing your hands.
5. The Runs
Nobody wants diarrhea. Luckily, we’re not on the Oregon Trail so dysentery isn’t an automatic death sentence. That said, fevers, cramps, and the runs are something that can be stopped before they start simply by washing your hands. In fact, the CDC says that handwashing can reduce the number of people who get diarrhea by 23-40%.
6. Breakouts
Washing your hands is another great way to decrease the chance of acne breakouts. Touching your face already spreads oils that can clog pores and cause unwanted pimples, but if you add bacteria from portable restrooms to the mix then you’re only making the situation worse. So, wash your hands.
Providing The Right Handwashing Station
Thankfully there are many handwashing station options to choose from. Organizers looking to provide excellent restroom amenities at their events, festivals, concerts, and even construction sites should understand the health benefits associated with handwashing stations. That’s why we made this list. It’s no secret that washing your hands keeps you safe — but sometimes we forget about all the downright dirty side effects of not washing our hands.
Don’t risk your patrons getting sick or spreading illnesses. Provide top of the line handwashing stations for use wherever your portable restrooms are. Both in-unit and freestanding units are available — so don’t let anything stop you from keeping your restroom users safe.
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