Preview Mode Links will not work in preview mode

Howard G. Smith, M.D. is a former radio medical editor and talk show host in the Boston Metro area. His "Medical Minute" of health and wellness news and commentary was a regular weekday feature on WBZ-AM, WRKO-AM, and WMRE-AM. His popular two-way talk show, Dr. Howard Smith OnCall, was regularly heard Sunday morning and middays on WBZ.

Dr. Smith has adopted audio and video podcasting as conduits for HEALTH NEWS YOU SHOULD USE. Based on the latest medical, health, and wellness literature these reports provide practical information you can use to keep yourself and your family healthy. Many reports have video versions, and Dr. Smith’s YouTube Channel may be found at: http://bit.ly/2rNw6XQ

Trained at Harvard Medical School and a long-time faculty member at Boston Children’s Hospital, he practiced Pediatric Otolaryngology for 40 years in Boston, Southern California, and in central Connecticut.  He is now based in New York City.

If you have questions or suggestions about this content, please email the doctor at drhowardsmith.reports@gmail.com or leave him a message at 516-778-8864.  His website is: www.drhowardsmith.com.

Please note that the news, views, commentary, and opinions that Dr. Smith provides are for informational purposes only. Any changes that you or members of your family contemplate making to lifestyle, diet, medications, or medical therapy should always be discussed beforehand with personal physicians who have been supervising your care.

Feb 17, 2020

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/q51DURWmSY8

 

Those high velocity blowers that force streams of warm air onto your hands release 23 times more germs into the air you’re breathing than paper towels.  Now this study was published 2 years ago, but it’s critical now as we face the CoVid-19 pandemic.

 

The British researchers also found that the airborne bacteria remain aloft for up to 15 minutes and that the driers and other surfaces are covered with deadly bacteria including antibiotic-resistant MRSA.

 

How to protect yourself?  Wash with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before drying.  That’s Happy Birthday twice.  Minimize breathing while in the bathroom.  Use paper towels if you can.  Avoid touching surfaces after you wash. 

 

E.BestaP. ParnellaJ. CouturierbF. BarbutbA, etal.

Environmental contamination by bacteria in hospital washrooms according to hand-drying method: a multi-centre study.  Journal of Hospital Infection. Volume 100, Issue 4, December 2018, Pages 469-475.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2018.07.002

 

#jetdryers #bacteria #papertowels #drying