Allow me to be the first to admit, I’m a bit of what you might call a germaphobe. I like things clean, organized and polished. But even if you aren’t a germaphobe, there’s something really simple that you can do to make all of our lives easier: wash your hands.
You may be wondering why I am even writing this opinion, given that hand washing is something that has been taught to us for most of our lives. I remember being in preschool, standing on a stool at the sink, and looking at a rectangular chart that showed a step-by-step guide to how to wash your hands. And I never forgot that, but it seems that some Luther students on this campus did.
I am, to put it quite bluntly, disgusted, appalled and greatly disappointed when I see someone exit a restroom without washing their hands first. While I can only vouch for the men’s restrooms on campus, I hear from my female-identifying friends that they witness this behavior too in women’s restrooms. There is no telling how many germs linger on the surfaces we have touched. Washing your hands helps ensure that these germs don’t keep traveling with you like unwanted hitchhikers. It doesn’t have to take much time out of your day either. The common rule of thumb is that you should scrub with soap for about 20 seconds, or the length of time it takes to sing “Happy Birthday”.
Medical experts have stated time and time again that washing your hands is the single most important and effective way to prevent the spread of illness and disease. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) states that hand washing can prevent about 30% of diarrhea-related illnesses and about 20% of respiratory infections (e.g., colds). Additionally, although COVID-19 has lessened its grip on Luther to some extent, it is still out there both on campus, in greater Decorah and beyond. The same goes for many more common ailments, such as that pesky common cold or stomach virus that circulate through campus without fail each semester.
A common phrase we hear in many corners of life at Luther is “being community”. While I think I’ve heard this phrase so many times that it has begun to lose meaning, I still believe it can be applied to our common role of protecting each other as a campus community. Hand washing is a simple way to do this, and it’s arguably just common decency. After all, as Luther students who are busy with classes, extracurriculars and athletics, we’ve got enough on our plates without dealing with the inconvenience of getting sick. So, I urge you all, let’s do this one simple thing to help protect each other. Remember what you were most likely taught at a young age: wash your hands, and wash them well!
