‘ Fist bump’ healthier than a handshake (660 hits)
‘ Fist bump’ healthier than a handshake According to a report from Aberstwyth University, the fist bump may in fact be a more hygienic greeting than shaking hands. Handshaking facilitates the movement of germs between people, and can help spread contagious illness.
To test this, researchers Dr. Dave Whitworth, Senior lecturer at Aberystwyth University, and PhD student Sara Mela used rubber gloves and a thick layer of E. coli and exchanged handshakes, high fives and fist-bumps. The result? The transfer of potentially disease-causing bacteria is highest during a handshake.
Conversely, the transfer was reduced by over half in the high-five, and germ transfer was an astonishing 90 percent lower when bumping fists. The scientists posit that the hygienic nature of the fist bump may be due in part to its speed and because there is a smaller area involved.
As direct contact is needed for most microbes to move, minimizing the parts of the hand that touch gives bacteria less chance to spread. The fist-bumping researchers also looked at grip strength and found that a stronger handshake increased the amount of bacteria shared.
The study appears in the August edition of the American Journal of Infection Control, and was inspired by an increase in measures to promote cleanliness in the workplace, including the use of hand-sanitizers and keyboard disinfectants.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, handwashing is like a “do-it-yourself” vaccine—it involves five simple and effective steps (think Wet, Lather, Scrub, Rinse, Dry) you can take to reduce the spread of diarrheal and respiratory illness so you can stay healthy. Regular handwashing, particularly before and after certain activities, is one of the best ways to remove germs, avoid getting sick, and prevent the spread of germs to others.
