Make sure to remove watches and jewelry and wash and dry them separately prior to washing your hands, Aiello says. Moist jewelry on the hands can become a breeding ground for germs. During the hand wash be sure to wash under the nails since millions of germs gather there. And research has shown that damp hands spread 1,000 times more germs than dry hands1, so thorough drying is just as important as frequent washing. Using paper towels is the only option that actually reduces the number of bacteria on your hands when away from home or in public restrooms.

The Harris poll also proves consumer misperceptions surrounding the effectiveness of air driers. Although 43 percent of adults think hot or high velocity air dryers are the most hygienic method for drying hands, compared to single use paper towels, warm air dryers can actually increase the bacteria on your hands by up to 254 percent2.

Overall, 93 percent of U.S. adults say they believe hand sanitizers were at least somewhat effective in preventing the spread of H1N1. When a sink and soap are unavailable, hand sanitizers can also minimize the risk of infection.

Additional survey results found that employed U.S. adults are concerned with how H1N1 could impact work performance:

77 percent report H1N1 for themselves or family member would impact work 26 percent said work performance would be impacted 21 percent would have to take unpaid time off 36 percent would use paid sick time but 16 percent would have to use paid vacation 6 percent reported they might lose their job while two percent reported they would definitely lose job

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