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.
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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Healthy Hands for a Healthy School Year
7/27/2021
By David Miller
Marketing Director – Omnichannel, GOJO Industries
As we enter the back half of summer break, many families and teachers are looking ahead to the fall and the approach of another school year. Planning often begins with back-to-school shopping to stock up on items they’ll need to complete the school year successfully. This year, many shopping lists will include items to help prioritize healthy habits in the classroom – particularly since public health experts are concerned there may be an increased number of germs circulating this winter. With many children returning to in-person learning for the first time in a long time, help ease their adjustment and set them up for successful school year by reinforcing healthy habits, like hand hygiene.
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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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Dry Hands? Don’t Blame Your Hand Sanitizer
6/7/2021
By Kristen Green
Clinical Scientist, GOJO Industries
Your hands are valuable tools. Like any instrument, there is maintenance and upkeep required to ensure proper functioning. This pandemic has made everyone focus more on cleaning their hands – and that is excellent – but because of all that extra cleaning, some may be experiencing dry, cracked hands and blaming it on their hand sanitizer. However, there are many causes and solutions to dry hands.
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Packing Up for Summer Travel Season
5/24/2021
By Kristen Green
Clinical Scientist, GOJO Industries
Memorial Day weekend traditionally marks the start of summer travel season. After many long months stuck at home, unable to visit family and friends, we are all dreaming of vacations, extended weekends away from home, or short road trips to visit loved ones. With recent guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that it is safe to travel domestically if you've been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, some of those dreams are coming true. However, the CDC currently still advises delaying travel if you are not fully vaccinated.
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Do’s and Don’ts for a Worry-Free Clean
5/18/2021
By Chip Manuel, Ph.D.
Food Safety Science Advisor, GOJO Industries
Cleaning and sanitation have played an increased role in our everyday lives during the pandemic. Regular disinfection of high-touch surfaces is a simple and proactive way to help prevent the transmission of pathogens on surfaces to hands. However, the dramatic increase in the use of sanitation products, including cleaners, sanitizers, and disinfectants, also leads to an increased risk of misuse, potentially resulting in serious injury or even death. In fact, according to the National Poison Data System, there has been a 30 percent increase in disinfectant exposure cases reported to the 55 U.S. Poison Control Centers through May 2, 2021, compared to the same time period in 2019.
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What’s the Difference Between Cleaning, Sanitizing, and Disinfecting?
4/29/2021
By Chip Manuel, Ph.D.
Food Safety Science Advisor, GOJO Industries
As we live through this pandemic, the use of cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting products on surfaces are more common than ever. The recent CDC guidance about the relatively low risk of being infected by SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) by contaminated surfaces or objects (fomites) led to some confusing news headlines. It’s important to remember that regular touchpoint disinfection is a simple, proactive measure shown to reduce potential fomite transmission of other significant pathogens, such as norovirus. Also, people with COVID-19 can be contagious yet not show symptoms for many days, and increased frequency of touchpoint disinfection helps mitigate this asymptomatic risk.
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Raising Awareness During National Poison Prevention Week
3/22/2021
By Sheila Goertemoeller, PharmD, DABAT, ICPS
Clinical Toxicologist & Pharmacist, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Drug and Poison Information Center
National Poison Prevention Week is celebrated the third week of March every year and is a good reminder of the actions we can take to ensure the safe use of products at home. The U.S. Congress established the recognition week in 1961 to focus national attention on the dangers of poisonings and how to prevent them. According to the American Association of Poison Control Centers, 93 percent of exposures happen at home, and 45 percent of exposures involve children 0 to 5 years of age.
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Now More Than Ever, Getting a Flu Vaccine Is a Must
12/7/2020
By William Schaffner, MD
Medical Director, National Foundation for Infectious Diseases
During National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW), the primary public health message has never been more important than it is this flu season: Get your annual flu vaccine now. The recommendation is simple – it applies to everyone age 6 months and older – and it is critically important for those at high risk for flu-related complications, such as young children, pregnant women, older adults, and individuals with certain chronic health conditions, including heart disease, lung disease, and diabetes.
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