We serve as a trusted resource for the latest news and helpful information related to skin health and surface hygiene advancements. GOJO microbiologists, scientists,
nurses and other professionals post regularly
and we also get the views of outside experts and
thought leaders in the field. It’s all part of the
GOJO Purpose, Saving Lives and Making Lives Better Through Well-Being Solutions.
Dawn Yeomans, Ph.D.
Research Principal, GOJO Industries
Dr. Dawn Yeomans joined GOJO Industries in 2020, having spent more than 15 years supporting product development and advancing science and technology at leading FMCG companies including Procter & Gamble and Unilever. In her role at GOJO, Dr. Yeomans is responsible for new product innovation – ensuring GOJO continues to deliver market-leading, superior hygiene solutions to uniquely meet our customers’ needs. Dr. Yeomans holds a BSc. degree in Biochemistry, MSc. degree in Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, and PhD degree in Biomedical Sciences. Her areas of technical expertise are in skin health and hygiene science. For information on her research, visit her ORCiD.
New Study Shows Sanitizer May Help Get Kids’ Hands Cleaner
2/24/2023
By Dawn Yeomans, Ph.D.
Research Principal, GOJO Industries
Schools are full of germs. With large numbers of children in close contact with each other, sharing supplies or equipment, campuses often become germ breeding grounds. If you think about all the different objects and surfaces that kids touch daily, handwashing is, without a doubt, one of the easiest and most important ways to help reduce germs that may cause illness in schools.
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Fun Facts and Tips to Encourage Handwashing in Schools
1/19/2023
By Dawn Yeomans, Ph.D.
Research Principal, GOJO Industries
As students return to classrooms after winter break – bringing their germs with them – it's a good time to refresh our hand hygiene technique. But, after living through a pandemic for three years, many kids may be tired of hearing about it and really sick of DOING it! In fact, a recent study by the Global Hygiene Council showed that globally, almost half of 5-10-year-olds (42%) are not always washing their hands with soap at school. This is a serious issue since handwashing with soap and water is one of the best ways to reduce germs that may cause illness.
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Top 5 Moments for Students to Clean Their Hands
8/9/2022
By Dawn Yeomans, Ph.D.
Research Principal, GOJO Industries
Back to school often means back to germs. All the hard surfaces that students touch every school day – like door handles, railings, shared electronic devices, water fountains, sports equipment, and other common high-touch surfaces – are potential sources of contamination. So, it’s vital that students clean their hands at key moments throughout their school day.
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How Long Should You Wash Your Hands?
2/21/2022
By Dawn Yeomans, Ph.D.
Research Principal, GOJO Industries
By now, everyone knows that keeping hands clean is important to reduce germs that may cause illness. While washing hands with soap and water is one of the best ways to achieve this, it has to be done correctly. We've all heard leading scientists and health organizations tell us to scrub hands thoroughly with soap and clean water for at least 20 seconds, but have you ever wondered, "Why 20 seconds?"
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Helping Kids Avoid the “Winter-Hand Blues”
11/9/2021
By Dawn Yeomans, Ph.D.
Research Principal, GOJO Industries
Do your kids suffer from dry, damaged, irritated hands as the weather grows colder? If so, they’re not alone. Winter weather is not fun for skin; cold weather, low humidity, and indoor heating create dry air, which steals moisture away from the skin every second of every day. Scientific studies have shown that the top layers of skin, called the stratum corneum, hold 25% less water in low humidity conditions.
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Interactive Hand Hygiene Experiments for K-12 Students
8/10/2021
By Dawn Yeomans, Ph.D.
Research Principal, GOJO Industries
Schools are germy settings. As students go about their day at school, they touch shared objects like computer mice, water fountains, gym equipment, or the lunch checkout keypad, which contains thousands of germs. Some of those germs will hang out on their hands and can be introduced into their bodies when they touch their eyes, nose, and mouth.
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Aren’t All Hand Soaps Essentially the Same?
7/20/2021
By Dawn Yeomans, Ph.D.
Research Principal, GOJO Industries
The short answer is a confusing “yes and no.” We’ve all had the experience of using a soap that didn’t lather properly or that left our skin feeling tight and dry. This is because the soap formulation itself – as well as the practice related to dispensing the formulation – matter, for how the soap performs and feels during use, its germ and dirt removal efficacy, and how the soap leaves skin feeling after use. Here’s a little science to help understand why something as simple as soap can perform so differently and what to look out for when choosing a hand soap for your school district or college campus.
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Tips for Getting the Cleanest Hands in Schools
6/28/2021
By Dawn Yeomans, Ph.D.
Research Principal, GOJO Industries
Keeping hands clean is one of the best ways to reduce germs that may cause illness in all settings, but particularly for schools. When germs such as those that cause flu, stomach bugs, and the common cold get onto hands and are not removed, they can be transmitted from person to person, causing outbreaks of infections. Germs from contaminated hands can also be transferred to surfaces and other objects, thus spreading the infection further. As germy settings, schools need the right tools, products, and guidance to promote effective and consistent hand hygiene practices among students and staff.
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