Hand sanitizers installed

-- Mao Vang

Metropolitan State University implemented new sanitizers around its campuses to help fight the spread of germs and bacteria, and to help prevent a pandemic flu at the university and its surrounding communities.

"Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) system office directed institutions to establish a pandemic plan that could address future health and operational issues connected with avian flu or other pandemic challenges," said Thomas Maida, director of Safety and Security. "In recognizing that approximately 60,000 people die each year in the USA from seasonal flu, we felt that offering a hand sanitizer at our university might support a healthier environment during the flu season."

The sphere-shaped sanitizers are located in the halls, common areas and computer labs on the St. Paul, Midway and Minneapolis Campuses. The sanitizers are equipped with sensors to release a drop or two of sanitizer solution on an individual’s hand when placed under the sphere.

Maida said Metropolitan State has received positive feedback about the sanitizers. The little negative feedback he has received is from people who believe the sanitizer solution would attribute to the "super bug" that resists any medicine. "Isopropanol is the alcohol-based product in the sanitizer which doesn’t contribute to this ‘super bug’ germ that can’t ever be killed," said Maida.

The project, including purchasing and installing the sanitizers in their strategic locations, totaled $1,760 and was paid for out of Building Services’ operating budget. Since many people develop cold and flu symptoms during the winter months, the sanitizers were installed last January. The planning committee hoped to reduce the season’s outbreaks by using the sanitizers as soon as possible.

"We don’t have any definitive data that indicates that the sanitizers have been effective in reducing the transmission of colds [and] flu and other transmissible illnesses," said Dan Kirk, associate vice president of Building Services. "However, it would appear that they can only help in that effort."

"The goal is to make sure that each institution is prepared for a pandemic event," said Linda Kohl, associate vice chancellor of MnSCU Public Affairs. "Each institution’s plan is a bit different, but each college and university was asked to develop policies and procedures dealing with essential personnel, operations and service; health care needs, facility use, communications, academic program administration, and internal and external coordination."

Hamline University also introduced sanitizers around its campus in February. Unlike Metropolitan State’s sanitizer dispensers that don’t require touch, Hamline’s sanitizers are in the form of soap dispensers. They target high traffic areas including food service lines, student center areas, exercise areas and science labs as a back-up to hand-washing. "We have received a lot of positive feedback, especially in the science labs, because the process is instantaneous," said Chris Carey.

Metropolitan State also distributed spray bottles of sanitizer solution to different departments for use in university office areas.