I was almost amused when folks from the department of health came around to my work place earlier this week. They sure left a mark by the time they left: every available space was riddled with posters that read “it’s hand washing week”, “have you washed your hand today?” and specifically over every hand washing basin was stuck a sticker with two hands ; as if we did not know the wash hand basin was meant for hand washing!
My amusement came into play when I imagined how differently I might have interpreted a hand-washing week if I had no knowledge of infection control in the workplace. For one, it will mean “ceremonial hand washing”, that obsessive compulsive disorder in which an individual persistently forgets he has washed his hands and keeps going back to the wash hand basin would be considered abiding by the rules!
What is it about our species that makes us want to celebrate? And it does not matter whether it’s the odd or just plain semantics. April 1st is called fool’s day and we all just enjoy being told about a good joke pulled on someone that day of the month. However, do adults have to be reminded again that they should wash their hands after and in fact before any activity of significance? My take leans towards what is effective. Stickers reminding me to wash my hands are funny. May be it’s about adding fun to common sense. If the fun does not undermine the seriousness of the subject matter, then we may conjure a smile while we wash our hands.
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