1. Wynn with Fist Bumps: Premier giving healthy handshakes
Kathleen Wynn demonstrates how to give a fist bump.
TORONTO, Feb. 1, 2015 /CNW/ - The University Health Network announced today is
the beginning of Fist Bump the Flu Season. Kathleen Wynn was busy kicking off the
campaign by giving fist bumps today at Toronto Western hospital.
Direct contact between individuals gives greater efficiency of pathogen transmission.
According to the American Journal of Infection control, fist bumps spread the least
amount of pathogens in comparison to handshakes or high fives.
“Fist bumps seem to be the wisest greeting, especially during cold and flu season,” said
researcher David Whitworth of Aberystwyth University in Wales.
Researchers conducted tests to find out if different greetings had different rates of
bacteria transmission. The findings indicate that handshakes spread twice as much
bacteria than high fives. Fist bumps reliably exhibited the least amount of bacteria
2. transmission. Fewer bacteria is spread because of less contact and smaller surface
area.
Kathleen Wynn believes in this endeavour and will be visiting all the hospitals in the
network this week to help raise awareness and promote the cause. It is crucial the
public get involved with this campaign as it would decrease sickness and help save the
province money in healthcare.
This cold and flu season let us all be aware of how we can stop the spread of sickness
by doing something simple and free like fist bumps.
For more information, please visit
http://www.ajicjournal.org/article/S01966553(14)006592/abstract.
About University Health Network
University Health Network consists of Princess Margaret Hospitals, Toronto Western,
Toronto General and Toronto Rehabilitation Institute. The network is a world renowned
leader in research with major research in the fields of rehabilitation medicine,
cardiology, transplantation, oncology, neurosciences, infectious diseases and genomic
medicine. UHN is a research hospital affiliated with the University of Toronto. Visit
www.uhn.ca/fistbumptheflu and join in on the conversation by connecting with us
through social media.
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