By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Everett Allen,
USS George Washington Public Affairs
CELEBES SEA – Maintaining a hygienic lifestyle aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) is paramount to the mission readiness and health of the more than 5,000 Sailors who work and live here.
From regularly washing hands and laundry to sanitizing handrails and door handles, the health of the crew relies heavily on each Sailor doing his or her part to reduce the spread of germs.
“The continuity of washing your hands is a habit that must be developed,” said Cmdr. Rodney Hagerman, George Washington’s senior medical officer. “We can’t just periodically be clean, because then we leave ourselves open to organisms and disease states to occur.”
According to Hagerman, there are some common misconceptions Sailors should understand about what defines cleanliness.
“Studies from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have shown that hot water doesn’t necessarily improve cleanliness,” said Hagerman. “Though water alone is not effective in removing microbes and germs, the use of water and soap is. It doesn’t have to be anti-bacterial, it just needs to be some sort of surfactant-like soap, which is used to lift grime, grease and bacteria.”
Though hands are the first part of the body that should regularly be washed, showering is the next step in maintaining a healthy and sanitary lifestyle aboard the ship.
“Taking a shower is just like washing your hands,” said Personnel Specialist Seaman Henry Drost, from Redlands, California. “If it isn’t done daily, it can cause pore blockage and bacteria build up. It’s also a common courtesy to keep yourself clean for those around you. I know that doing this seven days a week at sea can be difficult, but everyone must take the time and make the effort.”
The bacteria build up from improper hygiene can carry over to laundry and bedding.
“Washing your uniforms and changing the bedding on your rack regularly is important,” said Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Carlos Vidal, from Shreveport, Louisiana. “If we don’t change our uniforms frequently, then bacteria, viruses and fungus can grow in them. Washing and changing our uniforms, PT gear and bedding helps to ensure that we’re not transferring this stuff to our racks.”
Aside from the health and hygienic benefits of showering daily, there are aesthetic and professional aspects that must be considered.
“My senior chief always says that the condition and cleanliness of our
uniform reflects the quality of the Sailor,” said Drost. “We must do the best we can to have a squared-away uniform because it’s part of our professional military appearance.”
Washing hands, showering and maintaining a clean uniform can quickly become an insufficient effort if the cleanliness of workspaces and common areas are not maintained.
“We must stay in the habit of regularly sterilizing handrails, keyboards, phones and other commonly used items,” said Vidal. “A lot of bacteria and other pathogens can be passed along just by touching [various items] that were recently touched by an infected person.”
George Washington’s Medical department provides readily-available disinfectants to combat germs, pathogens and microbes from spreading.
“We keep bleach on hand for anyone who wants to sterilize their equipment,” said Vidal. “Anything that’s frequently touched should be regularly wiped down with bleach or some type of disinfectant.”
For more information on ways to maintain proper hygiene, visit the CDC website at http://www.cdc.gov.
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