Hand Hygiene: how old habits die hard - and yet they don't seem to be enough

Hand Hygiene: how old habits die hard - and yet they don't seem to be enough

Nearly half of Americans feel that no matter how often they wash their hands, it's never enough during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to new research.As the nation reaches the one-year mark of the pandemic, the survey asked 2,000 nationally representative Americans to reflect on the past year to analyze their hygiene habits.Even though 90% of respondents shared they are aware of the CDC's guidance to wash their hands for 20 seconds, 41% said it's starting to get old.Conducted by OnePoll on behalf of American Water, the survey analyzed how respondents are practicing hygiene as the pandemic reaches its one-year anniversary. It's no surprise that three-quarters of respondents are frustrated with the pandemic and 65% are tired of people not taking the crisis seriously enough so it can end.Forty-two percent of those surveyed describe themselves as a newfound germaphobe because of the pandemic, and of these respondents, 79% agreed that this wasn't necessarily a bad thing.The top habits respondents did to stay safe included, carrying hand sanitizer at all times, immediately washing their hands for a full 20 seconds after being outside and avoiding touching public surfaces at all costs.With frequent hand washing being a key part of fighting COVID-19, the survey analyzed just how frequently people are doing this and found the average pollster washes their hands an average of nine times a day, with 18% washing upwards of 15 times a day."We know that water plays an essential role in people's daily lives, and as increased hand-washing regimens help to prevent the spread of the virus, we wanted to better understand how consumers' awareness of their reliance on water may have changed," said Ruben Rodriguez, Senior Director, External Communications, American Water. Although 65% of pollsters said their hygiene habits have improved over the past year, 42% admitted to letting things slide over the past few months. The top habit respondents are less inclined to do today, compared to March 2020, are immediately changing out of their clothes and washing them after being outside, as well as sanitizing all groceries and mail.Additionally, one in five respondents admitted that they don't wash their hands an average of five times a day even though they know they probably should. TOP THINGS AMERICANS DID AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMICCarry hand sanitizer on me at all times - 55%Wash my hands for at least 20 seconds after being outside - 49%Avoid touching public surfaces at all costs - 43%Constantly wash my hands, even when I've been inside for days - 34%Immediately wash all of my produce after returning from the grocery store - 28%Immediately change out of my clothes wash them after being outside my home - 28%Sanitize all of my groceries - 26%Sanitize all of my mail/packages - 23%TOP THINGS AMERICANS HAVE STOPPED DOING COMPARED TO THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMICImmediately change out of my clothes wash them after being outside my home - 50%Sanitize all of my groceries - 48%Sanitize all of my mail/packages - 44%Carry hand sanitizer on me at all times - 31%Immediately wash all of my produce after returning from the grocery store - 29%Constantly wash my hands, even when I've been inside for days - 29%Avoid touching public surfaces at all costs - 23%Wash my hands for at least 20 seconds after being outside - 18%

Nearly half of Americans feel that no matter how often they wash their hands, it's never enough during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to new research.As the nation reaches the one-year mark of the pandemic, the survey asked 2,000 nationally representative Americans to reflect on the past year to analyze their hygiene habits.Even though 90% of respondents shared they are aware of the CDC's guidance to wash their hands for 20 seconds, 41% said it's starting to get old.Conducted by OnePoll on behalf of American Water, the survey analyzed how respondents are practicing hygiene as the pandemic reaches its one-year anniversary.

It's no surprise that three-quarters of respondents are frustrated with the pandemic and 65% are tired of people not taking the crisis seriously enough so it can end.Forty-two percent of those surveyed describe themselves as a newfound germaphobe because of the pandemic, and of these respondents, 79% agreed that this wasn't necessarily a bad thing.The top habits respondents did to stay safe included, carrying hand sanitizer at all times, immediately washing their hands for a full 20 seconds after being outside and avoiding touching public surfaces at all costs.With frequent hand washing being a key part of fighting COVID-19, the survey analyzed just how frequently people are doing this and found the average pollster washes their hands an average of nine times a day, with 18% washing upwards of 15 times a day."We know that water plays an essential role in people's daily lives, and as increased hand-washing regimens help to prevent the spread of the virus, we wanted to better understand how consumers' awareness of their reliance on water may have changed," said Ruben Rodriguez, Senior Director, External Communications, American Water.

Although 65% of pollsters said their hygiene habits have improved over the past year, 42% admitted to letting things slide over the past few months.

The top habit respondents are less inclined to do today, compared to March 2020, are immediately changing out of their clothes and washing them after being outside, as well as sanitizing all groceries and mail.Additionally, one in five respondents admitted that they don't wash their hands an average of five times a day even though they know they probably should.

TOP THINGS AMERICANS DID AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMICCarry hand sanitizer on me at all times - 55%Wash my hands for at least 20 seconds after being outside - 49%Avoid touching public surfaces at all costs - 43%Constantly wash my hands, even when I've been inside for days - 34%Immediately wash all of my produce after returning from the grocery store - 28%Immediately change out of my clothes wash them after being outside my home - 28%Sanitize all of my groceries - 26%Sanitize all of my mail/packages - 23%TOP THINGS AMERICANS HAVE STOPPED DOING COMPARED TO THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMICImmediately change out of my clothes wash them after being outside my home - 50%Sanitize all of my groceries - 48%Sanitize all of my mail/packages - 44%Carry hand sanitizer on me at all times - 31%Immediately wash all of my produce after returning from the grocery store - 29%Constantly wash my hands, even when I've been inside for days - 29%Avoid touching public surfaces at all costs - 23%Wash my hands for at least 20 seconds after being outside - 18%