Bathroom Accident - Do you wash your hands?
By risris24
@risris24 (712)
United States
June 26, 2008 6:21am CST
When people use the bathroom, you just never know if they washed their hands. Do you?
It takes only two minutes to wash your hand, so I cannot understand why some people just don't do it.
There's this guy I work with who to make a long story short, used the bathroom, and left the evidence on his hand... That's right people, he had poop smeared on his hand and the best part of it all is he DIDNT know it!!!!! How, I have no idea, because I smelled it, and at first didn't know where the stench was coming from. It disappeared, that is until he showed up at my desk asking me if he could sign something and there it was, the putrid smell again, and right before me was his hand placed on the desk with poop smeared on it!!!!!!! I didn't want to embarass him, but a grown man in his 50's and you don't wash your hands???????
I walked around for days with sanitizer and didn't touch anything, even kept my hands covered by my shirt.
Would you have told your coworker that he had poop on his hand? How would you handle it? Do you wash your hands? How do you feel about people who do not wash their hands?
4 people like this
25 responses
@acevivx (1566)
• Philippines
26 Jun 08
Yes I wash my hands. Its automatic. However, the enswer to your question why some people don't is lack of training. If they grew up without learning or being trained in the need to wash your hands after using the bathroom, you can't expect them to think it is important to do so. But I can't believe the man you mentioned had poop on his hands and was not even aware that he had. The smell alone would call his attention to it. maybe you are exaggerating a bit?
1 person likes this
@risris24 (712)
• United States
26 Jun 08
I am sorry to say that this is no exaggeration, I wish it was because i was mortified for him. I didn't know what to do, because like I mentioned, I didn't want to embarass him, but at that age and something like that I think that is what he needed to make him realize the importance of washing his hands.
@Barb42 (4214)
• United States
26 Jun 08
There is no way I would use the bathroom and not wash my hands. I do it at home, too. Too many germs around not to do this. And a public bathroom is the very place to pick up diseases. I am really happy to see the bathroom where the water comes on automatically, the toilets flush by themselves, and the dryer even comes on automatically.
My grandchildren used to ask us if we had washed our hands the minute we would come out of the bathroom.They were taught to wash their hands from a very early age.
The thought of someone not washing their hands bothers me, especially in a restaurant. I've often sat and watched employees to see if they washed their hands. I like the restaurants that have a sink right inside the door of the kitchen, waiting for the employees to wash when they come in. Who knows if they actually wash their hands in the bathroom, although there is a sign in there that says that all employees must wash their hands. There is nobody to check on them in the bathroom,but there is in the kitchen!
@risris24 (712)
• United States
27 Jun 08
You sound like my mom...lol... She cannot emphasize enough to her grandchildren, especially my neice, about washing her hands. My neice is 10 and goes to school, while my nephews are only 2.5 and 1.5 and because she is in school with so many other children and so many germs, it is imperative for her to wash her hands immediatley because she is bringing that into the house and then playing with the boys and touching their stuff and passing it on. It is so important to teach children at an early age because if it is not instilled in them, they will most likely not do it themselves.
@Barb42 (4214)
• United States
28 Jun 08
Yes, the only way we learn is to be taught by seeing others do the same thing. It leaves an impression in the mind of a child.Just telling them doesn't always do the trick.I used to take my little one to the bathroom and hold them up to the sink and let them wash their own hands when they were little, all the while telling them that you don't eat with dirty hands. And you can get diseases from dirty hands if they have touched the wrong things. I think it took in them enough to teach their own children they needed to wash their hands. At least, when they were little, they made sure we knew to wash ours.
1 person likes this
@SusanLee (1920)
• United States
26 Jun 08
After getting over the desire to gag, I would probably have asked him nonchalantly what that was on his hand.
How can you even work with this fellow? I think I would be praying for either him or me a new job.
I am a chronic handwasher because my hands have a tendency to sweat. I think that's one reason I don't catch every little cold that comes by.
When we go out to eat, I fix my plate, set it on the table and then wash my hands trying not to touch anything on my way back to the table. If I go back for more to eat, I make a conscience effort to keep my hands off my food.
I don't think I could even look at this man. That is so revolting. And him in his 50s of all things.
1 person likes this
@ramyashreesk (1021)
• India
26 Jun 08
Hello risris, i always wash my hands after using the bathroom. Am very conscious about it , i don't know why? I keep one soap bar in kitchen too.
I feel washing hands is very important ,especially before having meals. Don't know we will have carried millions of germs from what ever we touch knowingly or unknowingly.
You must have felt sick because of your co worker?
@risris24 (712)
• United States
27 Jun 08
I wante dto die, I was disgusted and I just ran in to the other office where my supervisor was having a meeting and jumped up and down outside the door, waving my arms frantically to get his attention. Finally when he noticed me, he came out and I explained what happened while gagging in between each sentence and he said he would re-issue our department memo on hygene and speak to him personally and explain to him that he needs to be more cautious and wash his hands because it is unsanitary and plain out disgusting.
@magojordan (3252)
• Philippines
27 Jun 08
I always wash my hand after using the bathroom because it's just gross not to. Also did you know that when you wash your hands it should be at least as long as when you sing the happy birthday song? SO a tip to make sure that your hands is at least clean, sing happy birthday on your mind while washing your hands.
@AOSReaper116 (8)
•
26 Jun 08
Yeah I usually don't. Because I'm lazy. I usually just do what branmatt does. But I'm meticulous in checking to see if I have anything on them. I should just man up and do it. But I don't? Haha.
1 person likes this
@risris24 (712)
• United States
27 Jun 08
That's the thing no matter how hard you look to see if anything is on them, you will never find it because they are invisible germs that are all over your hands. Just think aside from going to the bathroom, when you leave the bathroom and touch the doorknob, think of how many germs are living on that doorknob and are now on your hands, this goes for any bathroom no matter how clean, but especiall a bathroom in your workplace or public place.
@lingli_78 (12822)
• Australia
27 Jun 08
that is really disgusting... i always try to wash my hand after going to the bathroom... especially if i poop... i can't stand not to wash my hand after that... it is so dirty... how can somebody be so dirty and he can't even smell the stench himself??? that is so weird... anyway, if i were in your position, i will definitely tell him in a polite manner since he is in my desk and i see the poop... if he is offended, then be it... it just shows me that he is not matured enough... take care and have a nice day...
1 person likes this
@pillusch (1147)
• Mexico
27 Jun 08
What a yacky subject, but here you go, it's part of life, isn't it? There are pigs and there are humans, your co-worker obviously belongs to the first group. I would have told him, I guess, but it's easy to say, sitting comfortably at home, far away from the situation.
I not only teach my children to wash their hands after using the bathroom, but before every meal as well. As you say, it's so little effort, and the benefits are great.
1 person likes this
@irishidid (8687)
• United States
27 Jun 08
Pee is sterile, but poopy fingers are disgusting.
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
27 Jun 08
I would have told him as sooner or later the poor guy is going to be embarrassed anyway so be honest with him, say something like henry you didnt get your hands clean when you washed,better go wash them now before anyone else sees that. I always wash my hands after I use the bathroom. I hate it when people are unclean about bathroom practices.
1 person likes this
@kylie_quistis (1220)
• Philippines
27 Jun 08
hmm, well, that was so disgusting and gross too. I don't know what will I do if I have a coworker like that, I might or mightn't not tell him. But maybe that incident will not erased in my mind and kinda remember it every time I see him or her. And I also do what you did, sanitized everything. Anyways, I always washed my hands and became a routine of mine after I used bathroom. And to make sure, I sanitized my hands also especially if I am going to eat. Not washing their hands after using bathroom was quite unhealthy. I do think that those people who didn't do it got a bad hygiene.
1 person likes this
@frankiecesca (2489)
•
27 Jun 08
Thats awful!!! I mean I think I would be like you and be unsure what to say as you can't exactly just go'oh you've not wiped your hand' as it isn't like it's a bit of food or soething like that!! I would be embarrassed for him too but, I think I would try my best to say something to bring to his attention if I could in a quiet way.
I always wash my hands and own lots of gorgeous smelling hand washes so that when people visit my home too they always want to!! lol In fact I find people going to the bathroom more often just so they can use it! At least we also know who hasn't washed their hands then as well!
@hockeybird (6)
• Canada
27 Jun 08
I went to the circus the other night that was in town and they had "jiffy johns" outside. I used the washroom and was thinking to myself, "This is kind of sick, no one is going to wash their hands." After turning around I saw their was a nicely set up sink outside with paper towel, and soap. I was glad that they had this. I was really disgusted by the thought of everyone not washing their hands.
1 person likes this
@branmatt (52)
• United States
26 Jun 08
Usually I dont wash my hands. Well I do, it depends on what business I'm doing in the bathroom. I mean of course I will if I'm at a restaurant, or at a girl's house, but I normally dont at home. I would if I was at work all the time after using the bathroom.
1 person likes this
@munhozmib (3837)
• Sao Paulo, Brazil
26 Jun 08
Hello, RisRis24!
What an embarassing situation. I certainly wash my hands after using the bathroom! I can't leave it without washing it, but many men goes outside without caring about their higiene. Now, if I found somebody that I knew with their hands on that condition... Eeeeww, that's disgusting. I wouldn't compliment the person directly for a long time, that's for sure. And I'd not tell the person, I'd let the person discover for herself.
Respectfully,
Munhozmib.
1 person likes this
@skinnychick (6905)
• United States
26 Jun 08
I think not washing your hands is disgusting. I always wash my hands all day long in fact. I have kids so I'm changing diapers, I'm a nursing student and a bartender, always have to wash your hands. Besides that, I hate feeling like my hands are dirty.
1 person likes this
@deathtofluffy (74)
• United States
26 Jun 08
I always wash my hands for a good thirty seconds thoroughly prior and after using the bathroom. It doesn't take two minutes to thoroughly wash your hands on the bathroom. You always should scrub vigorously when washing your hands. Thats really nasty knowing that he didn't wash his hands and he had the evidence on them to prove it . . . I think I would have gagged and laughed at the same time if I was in your position. I would have told on my co-worker or atleast informed him that he had fecal matter smeared on his hands (he deserves the embarressment). Sanitizer doesn't last long and can actually lose it's effect on cleaning those putrid areas. People who do not wash there hands should, and there is almost no good excuse on earth for not washing your hands.
1 person likes this
@Bluepatch (2476)
• Trinidad And Tobago
26 Jun 08
Definitely yes !
I would hate to think I went somewhere and there was poop to show ! How awful !
Some people just don't care or were just never trained this way !
Its disgusting the habits some people have !
Definitely wash up no matter what !
1 person likes this
