|
I washed my hands, but they wouldn't come clean
The plastic containers have become as common as pumpkins in October. Pump bottles of hand sanitizer are found in the checkout lanes of grocery stores, voter registration tables during recent elections and television newsrooms. They are sold in a variety of sizes: some small enough to fit in your pocket as well as the 60 plus fluid ounce pumps that tower over workers as they toil at daily tasks. Variations on the theme are mounted on walls and are free standing displays in high traffic areas like museums. The Hartbeat will have to admit that the preponderance of vessels of hand sanitizer is something of a bonus. For years, I have had a bottle nestled in a cup holder in Unit 14, the KARE 11 news vehicle I drive daily. Some of my colleagues used to accuse me of going overboard with the prevention of germs. Now, I see them lining up at the pump for their blast of clear bacteria busting gel. At the Democratic Convention in Denver last year, I was excited that a bottle of hand sanitizer was included in the bag of information and promotional goods given to the delegates and members of the news media. Vice President Walter Mondale commented to me at the end of an interview we videotaped, that the hand sanitizer was the most useful item in the bag. I don't recall a bottle of hand sanitizer in the Republican National Convention delegate/media bag that I picked up in St. Paul. After searching the streets of downtown St. Paul at night for protestors, it would have come in handy. I still have that Denver plastic bottle attached to my photo vest. Given the current high use of hand sanitizer, I notice people look at it with envy. Splish Splash One still can't beat a vigorous hand washing with hot water and lots of soap. A through drying with hot air or paper towels after that searing of your fingers under the tap really adds to your feeling that you are doing something to keep yourself healthy. Usually, hand washing is done in the privacy of a bathroom. With flu fear tugging at our coat tails, it doesn't seem to bother anyone to step over that privacy line and use sanitizer receptacles in public. There is a sense of pride about doing the right thing after a successful hand sanitizer experience (one where you don't miss-pump and waste the valuable product and spray your co-workers). KARE11 Anchor Julie Nelson always has paper towels ready when she sees me approach the hand sanitizer station located near her desk. Even before H1N1 concerns, I was a frequent user. Now, she has to be on constant guard as others seek purity at the nearby pump. Making it easy for the cleanup woman I just took a break from crafting this look at hand sanitation to wash my hands with hot, soapy water and perform a quick sanitizer cloth wipe of the computer keyboard at Hartbeat World Headquarters. The question that begs asking is: does the whole hand sanitizer/wipe ritual really work? Using gloved hands to scratch the surface of internet research, the consensus seems to be a somewhat guarded, yes. Simply put, alcohol kills bacteria. Hand sanitizers contain large volumes of alcohol. According to some studies, the alcohol will destroy some bacteria and slow the growth of others. One can always use the justification that hand sanitizing gives the user peace of mind, and that is very important. Stress does lower your resistance to illness. According to Information Resources, a Chicago-based research firm that follows mass merchandizing, consumers spent $19 million on hand sanitizers in September, a 177 percent increase over last year. In 2009, people have spent $130 million on the product, up 29 percent from last year. CNNMoney.com quotes Panjiva, another market research firm that claims that 3 million kilograms were shipped in the third quarter of 2009 compared to 1 million kilograms last year. You don't have to be a metric system expert to know that is a lot of sanitizer. Just when we are seeking out those often oddly shaped bottles of hand sanitizer at home, work and just about anywhere, there are media reports that supplies may be running low. Johnson and Johnson, the company that makes and markets Purell, is working to increase production. I was somewhat concerned when I read this week in the business section of a Twin Cities' newspaper, an Associated Press article reporting that Johnson and Johnson is cutting 8,000 workers "in an effort to cut costs and brace for changes in the health care industry." Hopefully, the cuts won't impact the production of hand sanitizer. The Hartbeat goes on... The Musical Notes Using that electronic bullhorn, the internet, I put out the word to my Facebook flock of friends that I was looking for songs about being clean. Former KARE11 colleague and Thundermen recording artist, Eric "Ole" Olson quickly suggested Bobby Darin's 1958 hit, Splish Splash. Brilliant! Betty Wright, a gospel and rhythm and blues singer with a tremendous vocal range, had a hit in 1971 with Clean Up Woman. The song was written by Steve Alaimo, who along with Dick Clark, hosted and co-produced the 1960's music show, Where the Action Is. In addition to a television and film career, Alaimo played guitar, sang with soul groups and produced records. He also co-wrote, with Gregg Allman, the popular Allman Brothers Band song, Melissa. The Photo Notes The stills of hand sanitizer were captured on Sony DVCAM tape with a very large Sony video camera.
|
 MORE HEADLINES |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
