As I’m trying to follow the plot and all the medical clues, I’m thinking “I wonder if the dispenser is empty”, because I know not too many weeks ago, any one of my customer would have killed for just one case of Purell.  That’s how much in demand it was.

It’s crazy how our industry dissects all walks of life, even my favorite T.V. drama and my problems transcend into a T.V. show!  I wonder what “H” would say?   “I guess they’ve been caught empty handed!”  (cue removal of sunglasses)

I recently visited two school districts of mine and was reminded of how important it is to use our chemical properly.  At the first school, I was going over product usage and performance with the head custodian.  He proceeded to tell me the following.  He said, “The enzyme product we are using to eliminate four odor and deodorizer our bathrooms is incredible effective but it doesn’t appear to be a very good polish for metal fixtures.”  I think you can image the look I had on my face.

The second school I visited, I actually had a brief meeting with the principal.  They were having an issue with odors coming out of the bathroom and it was filling the hallway.  I recommended that they start using one of our enzyme based products to eliminate the odors.  About a week later I received a thank you e-mail from the principal.  He wrote that in the past while giving school tours they always detour the hallway with the smelly bathroom.  Now, it’s the 1st hallway they visit.

Enzyme products can be a powerful tool against odors and bio-based buildup but in order to get the best performance make sure you use them properly.

After awhile, we got to this empty little room, as yet unpainted and not completely trimmed out. This, I was told, will be the barber shop. The priest looked at me and asked if I could get him a barber’s chair for this room. I’m sure I was a little stunned at the request, but responded that I would check with my office and get back to him. Back in the company office, I related my story and the request and was told that we did not have a source to supply this item. As I went about my business in the office that day, this story became a point of conversation with some other employees, because of its uniqueness.

Again, fate intervened. A lady employee in our credit department told me that her Dad was a retired barber who ran his own shop. She smiled and told me that she had his old barber’s chair from the shop sitting in her basement for years and couldn’t get rid of it. Yadda, yadda, yadda! She ended up donating the chair to my customer. The school sent their crew over to her home to pick-up the chair and gave her a donation receipt for tax purposes… and I was able to help a good customer and build good-will for my company.  It was a win- win-win situation all around.
So beware what you ask for… You just my get it!

And, all those hours that I have been glued to my couch on a Sunday afternoon watching Football, has actually been for only 11 minutes of actual football!  In the 174 minutes of an average football telecast, viewers see about 60 minutes of commercials, 75 minutes of players huddling or milling about between snaps, 17 minutes of replays - and just 11 minutes of actual football.

After hearing these two ridiculous facts, I asked myself how a company can charge $65 for an entertainment activity that could cause death and how I can be coaxed into watching 3 hours of pathetic programming for 11 minutes of entertainment. And the answer I arrived at was simple: Need. There is a need to want to see what it’s like to be part of a gang, and there is a need to see 3 hours of pathetic programming for 11 minutes of enjoyment.

I then head an epiphany: If people NEED a service, sensation or loss of common sense, then there is always something that can fill that need. So if you have something to offer, find the need. Ask your customers, your clients, your users what they want, what they are challenged with and showcase your service thereby filling their need. Figuring out what you can provide your clients will generate revenue and fill their need.

If you can afford to send $10 to help the people of Haiti, please text “Haiti” to 90999.  This goes directly to the American Red Cross.

It’s the summer and everyone is relieved that the “Swine flu” has passed. People have read all they feel they need to read so why read and learn more? The answer to this question is: Read on to learn that H1N1 is not dead, is very much alive, and is stirring and growing in a way that many people don’t know about.

I recently read an article that paints an alarming picture that is a must read and must share:

In an article from 8/7/09 issue of The Week, it states, “… Flu epidemics usually peter out in the warmer months, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said last week that swine flu has forced thousands of campers to spend time in the infirmary or return home early. ‘We have 33 camps in Maine with outbreaks, ‘ said Dr. Dora Anne Mills, Maine’s public health director… ‘Some of them have 70 to 100 kids in isolations.’ … ”

This is just one of fifty states that are being affected in the United States - this is just in Maine. I was under the impression that H1N1 was practically gone, that the Swine Flu is practically wiped out and that a fear we had several months ago is not worthy of conversation now. I am wrong.

The article later stated the CDC worst-case scenario: “… In a worst-case scenario, the CDC said, the H1N1 virus could infect more than 100 million Americans over the next two years… Globally, the highly contagious virus could eventually strike as many as 2 billion people or one-third of the world population … ”

These numbers are beyond staggering and mandate us to take action. What is the simplest way to prevent the spreading of the swine flu? Washing your hands. I don’t want to sound like I am pushing inventory into your hands, but it’s your disinfected hands that will control the spread of this disease. So please just take the advice of the CDC. Wash your hands! Wash your hands! And when you can’t wash your hands, use an alcohol based hand sanitizer!

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.

The NJSSA (New Jersey Sanitary Supply Association) has recent taken the lead to make Green Cleaning Legislation in Schools a reality.  For information or if you would like to contribute please contact the NJSSA.

New Jersey Sanitary Supply Association
Phone: 973-283-1400
Website: http://www.njssa.net