The study performed in South Florida found that 3% of the water sampled contained MRSA.  This doesn’t mean everyone should avoid going in the water or playing in the sand.  Most healthy people will not get an infection from contact with bacteria in seawater but it does mean precautions need to be taken.  If you have an open wound, you shouldn’t go into the ocean or a swimming pool.

Just another thing to worry about besides JAWS.

If you choose to use a regular air-dryer, then just know that you are:
(a) Running the risk of increasing the amount of bacteria on your hands
(b) Potentially contaminating other washroom users by spreading germs
(c) Causing harm to the environment which could be avoided

The study further stated that if you were presented with the choice of using hand dryers or not washing your hands, the better choice is to NOT wash your hands.   To me, this is simply incredible and I therefore feel compelled to share this quote from Keith Redway, a Senior Academic in the Department of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Westminster, with you:  “Indeed, these findings suggest that if either a warm air dryer or jet air dryer is the only drying method available, in terms of bacterial numbers, a washroom user could be better off not washing and drying their hands at all.”

If you don’t believe me then just check out these stats from the study:
*  Paper towel drying reduced the average number of bacteria on one’s finger pads by 76% and up to 77% on the palms.
*  Traditional warm air dryers increased the average number of bacteria by 194% on one’s finger pads and 254% on the palms
*  Jet air dryers increased the average number of bacteria on one’s finger pads by 42% and the palms by 15%

This study not only reports on the hygienic harm that air dryers cause for people, but the study also reports on the terrible pollutants that air dryers fill our environment with.   The jet air dryers, which claimed to blow air out at speeds of 400 mph, can blow micro-organisms up to 2 meters away!  This means that you are not only hurting yourself, but you are hurting the environment as well!  And when you look at the stark contrast of what happens when you use paper towels (which show no significant spread of micro-organisms) the choice is simple:  Paper Towels Beat Dryers Hands Down!

And if personal hygiene and environmental consciousness aren’t reasons enough to always opt for paper over hot air, then think about your pocket…eh hem… the money that you can spend or save.  This is funny because the old adage used new technology and stated:  BUY HAND DRYERS – they save energy and are more efficient!  But the new adage with the oldest way to dry your hands (paper towels) should state: BUY PAPER TOWELS – They not only dry your hands, but they clean and protect your hands from billions of bacteria!

I’m not sure about you but the next time I’m in the washroom and my only option is to use a hand dryer, it’s going to be an interesting decision.