Are you always afraid of using public toilet because of toilet infection? Be rest assured you are not alone. Many, especially women are.
Except it is a chronic diarrhoea, many would never opt to use a public toilet. They would rather look for a nearby bush, in places they exist, to easy off. People in this category can only use it if is only to urinate and nothing more. This is not even easy for them at times. Oh yes, they would not want to get infection just because they want to answer the call of nature. Easing off to become diseased later doesn’t add up.
Are you among them?
Then this article would be helpful. It would guide you on how to use public toilet without becoming infected there.
Now, how should a public toilet be used to avoid getting infection from it?
Actually, it’s possible to still come down with infection, depending on the state of your body defence mechanism, even after observing all the measures we are to enlist. The chances, however, would be reduced, nearly to zero, if you do any of these:
1. Flush the toilet before use
Water in toilet bowl is the primary source of toilet infection. Depending on where ( that is the place you are), which determines availability of water, some water could be clean and sparkling, while some could be turbid and dirty but the appearance doesn’t determine much.
Although, turbid and dirty water are near to sure source of toilet infection as colonies of microorganisms make water change colour. Flushing of toilet before use would therefore be a great step towards prevention of toilet infection. Whether the water is clean or not, flush it.
But if it is dirty and turbid, ensure that is become clean and clear before using it. If it demands external source of water, use bucket and fetch one and flush it thoroughly.
2. In situations where enough water is not available and it is a must you use the toilet, maybe as a result of diarrhoea, you could use tissue paper (loads of it) to cover the water.
This is to prevent the water in the bowl from splatting on to your body.
3. Thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water after using the toilet
Washing your hands with soap and water after using the toilet prevents a lot. It is better washed under running water. This practice reduces the germ load to a point where no infection would result. This prevents diseases such as bacterial gastroenteritis among others.
4. When you are out of the toilet, use hand sanitizer
Loads of infectious microorganisms harbour in sink, faucet handle, towel dispenser and public toilet door handle. After washing your hands, it is still possible, if not a must, that you would pick infectious organism from either towel dispenser, faucet handle, or door handle. Using hand sanitizer when you come out of the toilet would, therefore prevent you from carrying pathogenic microorganisms about.
5. After using the toilet, ensure you leave it clean by flushing it thoroughly
This act would make the next user not to be at high risk of getting infected. Be clean for it saves a lot.
6. Ensure that toilet seat is clean and possibly dry before use
Infection rarely occurs through toilet seat but the chances are not totally ruled out, especially if you have a skin cut. Skin rashes and itching can be gotten by using dirty and wet seat. So, to avoid this, clean it if it’s dirty before use.
7. Preach hygiene
Boys need this majorly. They are those who normally mess up toilets without even being bothered. They urinate without flushing it. To most of them, urine is liquid and should not be flushed as a result.
Maybe they don’t know that it makes toilets smell bad. Preaching hygiene and the act of keeping toilets clean, even public ones, could reduce the risk at which infection is being spread through toilets.
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8. In cases where there is no water, do not use the toilet because your using it will leave it in a dirty state.
Be clean and preach cleanness.
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