News Staff Reporter
Seen the new Purell hand sanitizer dispensers around school? If you have not, you will. New dispensers have been installed all around the campus to try to make Choate a germ free environment.
Mr. John Bjorkdahl, Director of Operations for Facilities, said, “I asked Dr. [Ben] Gardner, [the school physician], to support the idea of putting out the Purell dispensers to help reduce the spread of germs throughout the campus. Doctor Gardner clearly supported the idea and with the assistance of Paula Welch, Director of Facilities, and Ed Griffin, Controller for the Financial Office, we put together a plan to place the dispensers in locations that are most commonly used.”
Dr. Gardner commented, “I thought they were an excellent idea and encouraged him to supply them. We already had some in the Health Center and they do a great job of killing bacteria and viruses on your hands when you can’t wash your hands.”
The dispensers have been placed in many areas already. Some of them include the Health Center, the front and side entrances into Hill House Dining Hall, the day student locker area, and a few dorms. “We placed a free standing unit at the entrance to the Hill House Dining Hall that we have to refill almost every two to three days, which is great! Our goal is to have a dispenser in every dorm common room and every public location by the end of this year,” said Mr. Bjorkdahl.
Around winter, especially, students and faculty have colds and are susceptible to catching other people’s germs. Everyone involved in putting the hand sanitizers around campus is hoping that they will reduce sickness. Dr. Gardner said, “We hope that they will reduce the amount of illness on campus since so many ‘bugs’ are transmitted from hand to hand to face.”
Though Purell kills 99% of germs, it does not replace hand washing. Both Mr. Bjorkdahl and Dr. Gardner said that washing hands under hot water is the best way to stop the spread of germs, but that Purell will help kill germs and bacteria when there is no time to wash hands.
“The hand sanitizers are great as a substitute,” explained Dr. Gardner.
With new hand dispensers everywhere around the campus and with students and faculty using them, it will hopefully help put a damper to the spread of germs and illnesses.
Many students are starting to use them and are pleased that they are available, especially around the dining hall before eating. One student commented, “If you eat with your hands, which I think might be one reason they provide it, I sometimes worry if some chemicals remain on my hands. Otherwise, I think that it is useful in that most people get sick due to germs on their hands, so it might help with germs around the school if people use it.”
Kelsey Craig ’07 said, “Their distribution may be a little excessive, but hygiene is essential. I love the Purell dispensers. I use them all the time.”
