When I was young, it was standard practice to wash my hands before dinner. But there was one exception to this rule. When the family went out for dinner at the local drive-in burger restaurant, handwashing wasn’t even on the radar. After all, not only did we not eat at home, but we also ate in the car! Who had time for a sink?
The memories of those delightful days are now distant and rarely come to mind. But a few weeks ago, those outings returned to the forefront of my thoughts. They were precipitated by a delightful moment I surely will remember for some time.
Much like my childhood days, I was taking a break from the at-home meal in search of a burger. Though the establishment was not a drive-in, it had that same Baby Boomer generation feel. As I awaited my order, I caught glimpse of a family in a corner of the sitting area. Three generations – a grandmother, mother and her two kids – were huddled together reminiscing over the activities of the day and obviously anxious for the culminating event. They were in their own world but everyone in the restaurant watched them with admiring smiles.
During my family’s outings, the moment the food arrived was the starting pistol for what might be best considered as a race to eat everything. I expected the same when this family in front of me received their order. Yet, even as the server left the table, the children stayed put, looking longingly at their mother. They obviously wanted to dig in but there was a more pressing issue keeping them from devouring the food.
At first, I thought it might be a traditional moment, such as saying grace that kept the children from acting on their impulses. Yet there were no signs of such devotion. Instead, the mother calmly reached into her purse and pulled out a bottle of hand sanitizer.
As soon as the children saw the bottle, they presented their hands, awaiting the clear gel. Even the grandmother participated in the act holding out her hands as well. The mother gave them all a fair-sized dollop including one for her hands.
Then, they rubbed. The children loved it. The grandmother tolerated it. As for the mother, she had that look on her face knowing she was helping to keep her kids healthy.
After the ritual was complete – no more than thirty seconds later – the mother nodded and the feasting began. They devoured whatever was in front of them and made that expected mess over their mouths and hands. Fingers were licked, the back-of-the-palm napkin was used regularly and of course, the ketchup went everywhere. It was delightful.
For me, that moment of hand hygiene signified something very important. Most people tend to separate health from family activities. Hand hygiene may be a necessity at home but is expendable when out. While logically this makes the least amount of sense, the social burden of sinks, soap and water can hinder the overall enjoyment of activities. When I was young, that compromise meant putting my health at risk. It was just part of life. But today, hand sanitizers can ensure everyone gets the best of both worlds. Also, as the family showed, if hand sanitizers can be incorporated into everyday activities then an expectation of cleanliness can be formed.
Although I didn’t ask, I had a good feeling the children had become used to using hand sanitizers. This meant they were being taught how to use it long before the moment they entered that restaurant. In my book, The Germ Files, I suggest children can begin to learn how to use alcohol-based handrubs as early as two years of age, when supervised by an adult. They may take a while to learn how to perform the technique effectively yet they will eventually become comfortable with the product and the feeling on the hands. They may even learn to expect it much as in the case of this family.
Granted, using hand sanitizers at home should not replace education on handwashing with soap and water. Yet, teaching both to children – and adopting them as adults – allows for safety to be maintained whilst enjoying all activities. In light of the continuing concern over a variety of pathogens particularly in urban areas, this may provide the solace one needs.
As the kids finished off what was on their trays, my own order came to the table. My attention to the family was no longer a priority; I was pretty hungry. As I pulled out my own bottle of hand sanitizer, I thought about going over to the mother and telling her how happy I was to see hand sanitizer being used by the whole family.
But as I coated my hands with the gel, I realized that would be a disservice. She wasn’t trying to make a point. She was just being a mother and working to keep her family safe. It didn’t matter to her if “The Germ Guy” approved or not. I’m sure she didn’t want to hear about the hundreds of studies showing efficacy and safety of alcohol hand rubs. Most certainly, she had no interest in any of my catchphrases. The mother knew what worked for her and her family and made sure they followed suit. She even took it one step further to make sure everyone enjoyed the moment.
As a hand hygiene proponent, I see her actions as championing and deserving of recognition. Yet, just simply knowing these actions are happening all over the world is all I really need to know. Although I may not see the actions all the time, just knowing they happen can be enough to keep me happy. That, and perhaps, a nice, tasty burger.