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.
Do Your School's Disinfectants Leave Chemicals Behind?
5/1/2023
By Dawn Yeomans, Ph.D.
Research Principal, GOJO Industries
Schools are a breeding ground for germs – they're forever plagued by illness outbreaks that potentially disrupt student learning and facility operations. We know that surface disinfection is one key way to break the germ cycle, providing peace of mind that killing germs on surfaces means healthier school facilities. But have we thought enough about what is left behind after we kill the germs, and are we confident it's not another risk to our students and staff?
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Tips to Prevent Norovirus Outbreaks in K-12 Schools
2/16/2023
By Dawn Yeomans, Ph.D.
Research Principal, GOJO Industries
Schools are common settings for spreading germs and illnesses, particularly during the cold winter months when people spend more time inside. While the flu and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) seem to have peaked for this season, norovirus and other "stomach bugs" are wreaking havoc on K-12 schools. A few elementary schools have even been in the U.S. news recently with norovirus outbreaks, some even canceling school for a few days.
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Tips to Prevent Norovirus Outbreaks on Campus
1/27/2023
By Dawn Yeomans, Ph.D.
Research Principal, GOJO Industries
Every January, as K-12 schools, colleges, and universities return to campus after winter break, schools brace for a flare-up of seasonal illnesses as students and staff bring germs from around the country back to campus. This year, high cases of RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) and the flu have been reported throughout the U.S., with COVID-19 cases rising. But, so far, one illness that appears to be hiding just below the radar is the dreaded "winter vomiting bug" or "stomach flu."
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Top Tips to Fend Off Flu, RSV, and Colds in Your Home This Winter
11/4/2022
By Dawn Yeomans, Ph.D.
Research Principal, GOJO Industries
The days are getting darker and cooler, the leaves have fallen, and with the holidays approaching, we are all looking forward to welcoming guests into our homes to celebrate. One thing we don’t want to welcome into our homes this time of year is the flu and other winter respiratory viruses, like the common cold and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), which is currently surging in U.S. children.
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5 Steps for Schools to Prepare for Cold, Flu, and RSV Season
10/20/2022
By Dawn Yeomans, Ph.D.
Research Principal, GOJO Industries
With the fall semester in high gear and Thanksgiving and winter breaks quickly approaching, many schools are on the lookout for another seasonal element that has the potential to disrupt their operations – the arrival of cold and flu season. Unlike other illnesses that are difficult to predict, each year, like clockwork, an army of respiratory viruses that cause cold and flu-like symptoms invades our schools, typically starting in the early fall and peaking between the months of December and February – though they appear to be starting early this year.
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Tips to Prepare Your Business for Flu, Colds, and RSV Season
9/28/2022
By Dawn Yeomans, Ph.D.
Research Principal, GOJO Industries
With the potential of an early start to this year’s flu season, and respiratory virus cases filling up U.S. pediatric hospitals, it’s time to act now to keep your businesses and workplaces healthy this flu and winter respiratory virus season. Places like retail shops, office and medical buildings, school campuses, restaurants, grocery stores, and leisure facilities, with their shared spaces and many people coming and going throughout the day, are prime incubators for respiratory viruses like the flu, RSV, and viruses that cause the common cold.
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5 Tips to Avoid Back-to-School Illness Outbreaks This Fall
8/22/2022
By Dawn Yeomans, Ph.D.
Research Principal, GOJO Industries
Over the past few weeks, U.S. K-12 schools, colleges, and universities have been navigating the waves of students returning to their buildings and campuses for the 2022-2023 academic year. Unfortunately, the students are not coming alone – they are likely bringing their personal germs with them.
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Hidden Germs in Collegiate Dining Facilities
7/18/2022
By Dawn Yeomans, Ph.D.
Research Principal, GOJO Industries
Germs are everywhere. Did you know, on average, adults can touch as many as 30 objects in a single minute, including germ-harboring, high-touch surfaces? In fact, germs that can make your students and staff sick can survive pretty much anywhere and live from hours to even months depending on the germ and where it’s residing! This is partly why outbreaks – like COVID-19, cold, flu, and gastrointestinal illness – are common on college and university campuses. The residential style of shared dining facilities and high student-to-student contact make campuses breeding grounds for infectious outbreaks.
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7 Ways to Get a Head Start on Germ Defense Next Year
4/5/2022
By Dawn Yeomans, Ph.D.
Research Principal, GOJO Industries
K-12 facility managers, teachers, and staff deserve a pat on the back for helping their schools stay open this academic year. And there is no rest; while the 2021-2022 school year nears completion, facility managers are already preparing for the next school year, which will likely look different yet again. With the pandemic (hopefully) in the rear-view mirror, facility managers may want to breathe a sigh of relief, but now is not the time to let up the guard. With masks disappearing from use and other COVID practices like social distancing relaxing, germs will likely re-emerge, possibly with a vengeance.
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Surface Disinfecting Wipes Make Classroom Cleaning Easier and Faster
3/15/2022
By Dawn Yeomans, Ph.D.
Research Principal, GOJO Industries
Schools are full of germs. More than a decade ago, leading microbiologist Dr. Chuck Gerba conducted pivotal research showing that 25-50% of surfaces in the classroom can harbor germs that cause stomach bugs and the flu during winter months. With germs ever present in our schools and nearly half of school staff reporting disinfecting their classrooms at least four times a day, many classrooms probably have a stash of disinfectant wipes to help teachers and staff efficiently keep surfaces germ-free.
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