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HEALTH AND WELL-BEING

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The No. 1 thing you should be wary of in a public restroom

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The public should always be leery when using public toilets. There are monsters present there invisible to the naked eye.

 

What is lurking on the seat, under the seat, and in the bowl? All those people in and out tracking bacteria all over the place is of critical concern—even more so now with everything that is going on in the world, like COVID, for instance.

 

But there is one critical thing the public should never do in a public bathroom…especially right now!

 

One organization did a real-life study on the number of bacteria in a public bathroom. They swabbed the bathroom after a full days’ use and found the toilet (although it had plenty of germs present) was not the dirtiest thing in the bathroom. Swabs from the sink revealed 50,000 bacteria on and around the sink. 

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Shockingly, the biggest purveyor of germs and bacteria in a public restroom are hand dryers. 

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According to researchers at the University of Connecticut, hand dryers in both men’s and women’s public bathrooms blew bacteria back onto hands, including fecal matter. The study that was published in the Applied and Environmental Microbiology Journal noted that scientists placed plates under the dryers in 36 bathrooms on the University of Connecticut’s campus to collect data. In 30 seconds, the plates gathered between 18 and 60 different colonies of bacteria per plate.

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“These results indicate that many kinds of bacteria, including potential pathogens and spores, can be deposited on hands exposed to bathroom hand dryers and that spores could be dispersed throughout buildings and deposited on hands by hand dryers.”

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The hand dryers tested did not have HEPA filters, which help to reduce, but not eliminate the number of bacteria that become dispersed. Study leaders feel that their results mean that hand dryers are responsible for spreading bacterial spores, including Bacillus subtilis PS533 (from feces), which was discovered in every bathroom tested.

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After this study, the bathrooms that were used began offering paper towels for hand drying.

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It can be assumed that other public bathrooms off of the University campus would offer up similar results if tested for bacteria. Even when equipped with a HEPA filter, bacteria can still be spread. There is very little that can be done to 100 percent contain bacteria in a public bathroom, which means we all need to be on guard. Here are some tips for protecting yourself the next time you have to use a public restroom.

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  • Choose bathrooms in higher-end establishments if possible; hotels, bookstores, cafes, and restaurants.

  • Don’t touch the door. Touch as little as possible, including the bathroom door handle. Since 95 percent of people don’t wash their hands, this means you could pick up traces of norovirus, C.fifficle, and hepatitis A before even getting into the bathroom. Use your elbow, shoulder, or cover your hand with a scarf to open the door instead of your bare hand. Use this same technique to open a stall door.

  • Check out the toilet seat. Do a thorough visual inspection of the toilet seat before sitting down. Check for anything left behind. Wipe the seat off with toilet paper and use the seat covers if provided. If there are no seat covers, line the seat with toilet paper before sitting down.

  • Don’t touch the flusher. Hopefully, the toilet has an auto flush. If not, wrap some toilet paper on your hand before touching the handle to flush.

  • Washing up. If there are not auto water and soap dispensers, use a piece of paper towel or toilet paper to turn on the water. Do not touch any part of the sink or faucet with your bare hands.

  • Drying. Avoid hand dryers and grab some paper towels instead without touching the towel machine with your bare hands.

Blacklegged ticks or deer ticks are widely known to transmit Lyme disease, and new research shows they can carry enough prions to infect deer with Chronic Wasting Disease. (Adobe Stock)

Tiny ticks vectors of big trouble

Carry infectious levels of chronic disease

Scientists are gaining ground in the race to understand what is causing the spread of chronic wasting disease, or CWD, in deer and elk.

Stuart Lichtenberg, research scientist at the University of Minnesota and co-author of a new University of Wisconsin at Madison-led report, said the team wanted to find out if deer ticks that were found on white tail deer killed by hunters carried prions, the misfolded proteins that spread the disease.

"We were actually able to detect what we called 'transmission relevant doses' of CWD prions," said Lichtenberg. "That is to say that there is enough prions present in those ticks that it could cause disease in an animal that is susceptible to CWD."

Lichtenberg warned that scientists still do not completely understand how CWD spreads, but this new research shows potential options for mitigating transmission if ticks are in fact a major contributor.

Chronic wasting disease has been found in 30 US. states including Wyoming, and four Canadian provinces.

It was first identified in 1985 in southeastern Wyoming mule deer, in elk the following year, and has since spread to the majority of the state.

Lichtenberg said while there are concerns that CWD could spread to humans, there is no solid evidence showing the neurological disease can or will do so.

"It's essentially the same thing as mad cow disease from the early 90's," said Lichtenberg. "But it takes place in white tail deer, mule deer, elk. It is inevitably fatal, and untreatable."

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department offers hunters a range of options for testing their harvest for CWD.

Lichtenberg said this is an important step hunters can take every year to protect themselves, their families and Wyoming's iconic big game.

"It gives them the peace of mind that their harvest is safe," said Lichtenberg. "But it also provides a lot of useful information for those departments of natural resources that they can then use to make management decisions based upon what hunters are seeing out in the wild."

US transitions to 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline 

ROCKVILLE, MD (MNS)—Effective July 16, the US transitions the 10-digit National Suicide Prevention Lifeline to 988—an easy-to-remember three-digit number for 24/7 crisis care.

 

The lifeline, which also links to the Veterans Crisis Line, follows a three-year joint effort by the US Depart- ment of Health and Human Services (HHS), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to put crisis care more in reach for people in need. This initiative is part of President Biden’s comprehensive strategy to address our nation’s mental health crisis, and is identified by US Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra as a top priority at HHS.

 

Since January 2021, the Biden-Harris Administration has made unprecedented investments to support the 988 transition, investing $432 million to scale crisis center capacity and ensure all Americans have access to help during mental health crises.

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The National Suicide Hotline Designation Act, signed into law after the passage of bipartisan legislation in 2020, authorized 988 as a new three-digit number for suicide and mental health crisis. All telephone service and text providers in the US and the five major U.S. territories are required by the FCC to activate 988 no later than July 16.

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"988 is more than a number, it is a message: we’re there for you. Through this and other actions, we are treating mental health as a priority and putting crisis care in reach for more Americans," said Secretary Becerra, who has been meeting with states across the country about the transition to 988 as part of HHS’ National Tour to Strengthen Mental Health. “There is still much work to do. But what matters is that we’re launching, 988 will be live. We are looking to every governor and every state in the nation to do their part to make this a long-term success."

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The Biden-Harris Administration increased federal investments in the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by 18-fold - from $24 million to $432 million—to scale up crisis centers and back-up center capacity, and to provide special services, including a sub-network for Spanish language speakers.

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The $432 million included $105 million in grant funding to states and territories, provided by the American Rescue Plan, to improve response rates, increase capacity to meet future demand, and ensure calls initiated in their states or territories are first routed to local, regional, or state crisis call centers. Prior to this investment, the Lifeline, which has existed since 2005, had been unfunded and under-resourced.

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The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is a network of more than 200 state and local call centers supported by HHS through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

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"Recent investments made in the Lifeline have already resulted in more calls, chats, and texts answered even as volume has increased, but we know that too many people are still experiencing suicidal crisis or mental health-related distress without the support they need," said Miriam E. Delphin-Rittmon, Ph.D., the HHS Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use and leader of SAMHSA.

 

"Over time, the vision for 988 is to have additional crisis services available in communities across the country, much the way emergency medical services work." Delphin-Rittmon said. "The success of 988 depends on our continued partnership with states, as the federal government cannot do this alone. We urge states and territories to join us and invest further in answering the call to transform our crisis care response nationwide."

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FCC staff first proposed 988 in a report to Congress in August 2019 as the nationwide, easy-to-remem-ber, 3-digit dialing code for individuals in crisis to connect to suicide prevention and mental health crisis counselors with the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. On July 16, 2020, the FCC adopted rules designating 988 for this purpose. Recognizing the need to better support at-risk communities in crisis, including youth and individuals with disabilities, the FCC adopted additional rules in November 2021 to expand access to this important service by establishing the ability to also text 988.

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"All across our country, people are hurting. They need help. The good news is that getting that help just got a lot easier. The 988 hotline will be available nationwide for individuals in crisis, and their loved ones, to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline more easily," said FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel.

 

"This cross-government effort has been years in the making and comes at a crucial point to help address the mental health crisis in our country, especially for our young people."

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VA administers the Veterans Crisis Line through the Lifeline’s national network. Because of VA’s partner- ship with the Lifeline, the Veterans Crisis Line is affected by this transition to a new number. Veterans and their loved ones can now Dial 988 then Press 1 to reach the Veterans Crisis Line.

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"988 has been a long time coming and will serve as a critical resource during a crisis when every second counts. The new, shorter number will help ensure Veterans have easier access to the Veterans Crisis Line," said VA Secretary Denis McDonough. "This launch is a whole-of-government approach in line with the president’s call to prioritize mental health by strengthening access to crisis services, and preventing Veteran suicide, our top clinical priority."

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In 2021, the Lifeline received 3.6 million calls, chats, and texts. That number is expected to at least double within the first full year after the 988 transition.

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The US had one death by suicide every 11 minutes in 2020, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Suicide was the second leading cause of death for young people aged 10-14 and 25-34. From April 2020 to 2021, more than 100,000 people died from drug overdoses. Studies have shown that after speaking with a trained crisis counselor, most Lifeline callers are significantly more likely to feel less depressed, less suicidal, less overwhelmed, and more hopeful.

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The 10-digit Lifeline number 1-800-273-TALK (8255) will continue to be operational after July 16 and will route calls to 988 indefinitely. Veterans, service members, and their families can also still reach the Veterans Crisis Line with the current phone number 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1, or by chat or text to 838255.

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More information on 988 is available at www.samhsa.gov/988 and https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/988/faqs. B-roll and soundbites are available for download here: https://hhstv.orangedox.com /20220716988BitesandBroll​

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