A recent survey discovered that 1 in 5 Australians skip washing their hands after using the bathroom.
Conducted by the Food Safety Information Council, this survey took a close look at the hand hygiene habits of 1,229 Australians aged 18 and over. It’s not just the bathroom where people are cutting corners; nearly half of those surveyed admitted they don’t always wash their hands before handling food.
The survey also shed light on some interesting differences between genders and age groups. Women were slightly more diligent than men, with 83% of women washing their hands after using the toilet compared to 80% of men. However, the gap widens when it comes to food handling, with 62% of women washing up before cooking, against just 55% of men.
Age-wise, it seems the younger generation has some catching up to do, as only 69% of Aussies under 34 consistently wash their hands post-bathroom, compared to a more impressive 86% of those aged 65 and older.
Dr Christine Carson from the University of Western Australia warns that not washing hands can increase the risk of spreading bacteria, posing health risks especially to vulnerable groups like the elderly or those with weakened immune systems. It seems that many, particularly younger folks, don’t perceive the threat of illness as significant, possibly because germs are invisible to the naked eye.
So, next time you’re near a sink, remember: a little soap and water can go a long way in keeping you and those around you healthy!
