Hand Washing: Not Just For Wimps Anymore

The article explains how this germaphobe created the hand washing chart based on his experiences as a middle school teacher and his experience at the mall.

(PRWEB) March 6, 2004 --"Hand Washing: It's Not Just For Wimps Anymore!"

Hi, my name is John Lundgren, a 7th grade English teacher of 25 years. Now, why would an English teacher be interested in creating a hand washing chart? To me, the reason is obvious. Every contagious germ known to mankind enters my school on a regular basis all year long. It's not uncommon for a flu bug or some other kind of bug to cough, sneeze or hack its way through the whole school population.

Early on in my career, I took measures to avoid catching these various illnesses, and being an avid hand washer was my number one defense. I did a few other things too which made me a target of some light-hearted joking by my associates. For example, I wouldn't place my sandwich or other food on top of the bare table in the teacher's room and then eat it. And I was loathe to eat food where associates were "double dipping." Basically, I tried to avoid consuming other people's drool. Is that such a bad thing? For these quirks, I was perceived as a germaphobe, if there is such a word.

In my teaching career I only missed two or three days due to illness which I attribute to the habits I described. So why design a hand washing chart? The reason that motivated me is graphic. Imagine my horror when I was in the rest room of a big chain store and witnessing one of the employees walking out of a stall and directly out the door without visiting the sink. No big deal, you may think. Well, as it turned out, I saw this person preparing food in the food court! Ecoli-burger, anyone?

My experience at the mall is what made me decide that a hand washing chart which specifically named the kinds of germs found on hands would be a good thing to promote hand washing. I want the people who serve me food at the mall to wash their hands! I want my students to wash their hands too. Nice to meet you. I want you to wash your hands as well.

I wrote to universities all over the country for their suggestions as to what germs to identify on my chart. It became clear that their were more nasty microbes out there than would fit on the chart. I chose some of the most threatening ones and proceeded to create my chart. Like George on the Seinfeld show, I became a hand model using a picture of my hand for the one seen on the poster. (No, this was not a career move.)

My second chart is a more humorous take on the subject. One of my students, Scott Lenhart, was a terrific artist who went on to be a snow board designer for Burton Snow Boards. Scott created the monstrous looking germs that are attacking the hand in my second poster. The words "Germ Farm" ...Scrub 'Em is a simple way of promoting the same message as the more serious poster.

I am waiting for a giant corporation to ask to place their logo or message at the top of one of the charts for major distribution. So far, my biggest customers have been elementary and high schools. Read my story called "The Experiment" to get an idea of how much we need to promote hand washing. You can find it at www.1st-in-handwashing.com