I work with children, and so naturally bacteria and other various types of scum are surrounding me at any given moment. I see colds, the flu, and other diseases make their wave through the school. And as a result, my hands are continuously dry from all the hand washing (it really does work).
Now, of course, to keep the bacteria at bay, I have "my kids" wash their hands numerous times also - especially before eating breakfast and snack (I work in a before and after school program). For the most part, the children are compliant, as they understand the principles of hygiene (for the most part). However, one sixth grader had this to ask me: "Why do we have to wash our hands, when I'm just going to pick up my backpack and my water bottle and get germs all over my hands again? What's the point if they are just going to get covered in germs again?"
The answers to this question are obvious, but the student's logic is reasonable. Why make things clean when they're just going to get dirty again?
Well...then we'd all look like a mudpuddle......
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Now, to switch gears....I'd like to take some time and make a point about vaccinations. There seems to be a lot in the news lately about them (or lack of them), including from our school nurse. It seems a growing number of parents are choosing not to vaccinate their children. I understand there is a possible link to autism, and there may be religious beliefs involved, but, personally, I think the positives outweigh the negatives. Due to this opting out, there has recently been a rise in measles, polio, along with many others. This rise occurs in concentrated areas where children are not vaccinated. Coincidence? I think not.
I respect others beliefs, as everyone is entitled to his/her own. However, the link to autism has not been proven - it's simply a correlation to which there is no outstanding evidence for.
So...today's lesson: Wash your hands, and get your shots taken; does a body good.
Yeah... there's a single study that shows the correlation, and many, many, many dozens of others that don't. So basically... there's no evidence for it.
~C
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I write this response at the risk of sounding grimy. I assure you, I'm a perfectly hygienic person.
But....... I have to cringe slightly every time I see someone whip out a bottle of Purell whenever they touch something. I understand hand washing is important, but, like everything else, too much of a good thing is, well, a bad thing.
All that constant hand washing can possibly result in more and more resistant strains of bacteria and viruses. For me, washing hands before dinner and after using the bathroom is plenty (and, of course, I brush my teeth twice a day and shower every night). I'm not sickly at all.
As for the vaccinations, until we get some more definitive proof about any links to autism, you better get your shots.
No, you're not grimy or sickly. I agree with you about the constantly washing thing. Let me clarify: I wash my hands often, and encourage hand washing (similar to the routines you have established). Being overly concerned about germs, however, does have its consequences, like the ones you mentioned. Germs are naturally present, and for the most part, our bodies know how to deal with them. Normal, healthy hygiene just helps the situation :)
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"In and of itself, nothing really matters. What matters is that nothing is ever 'in and of itself.'" - Chuck Klosterman, "Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs"
http://progressiveu.org/blog/k-moore
You may be interested in a couple of blogs I wrote on bacteria/viruses/antibiotics and vaccinations.
The one on vaccinations has a section specific to Thimerosal, the preservative believed to be linked to autism. As mvenus said, there's just not a lot of research done that proves a correlation between vaccinations and autism, and much research that says there's no link at all. However, drug companies started removing it from vaccines in 1999, despite the research--probably just to make people who don't believe in research happy.
Good blog. :-)
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