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Here’s a #THREAD topic that’s a little different for the #schoolreopening conversation: pooping.
We all know #everybodypoops. Many of us avoid it in public. But not everyone.
Students poop. Teachers poop. Staff poop. Everybody poops.
So, why is this relevant?
We all know #everybodypoops. Many of us avoid it in public. But not everyone.
Students poop. Teachers poop. Staff poop. Everybody poops.
So, why is this relevant?
I read a study not long ago. Now, I’m no physicist, but the title alone should concern you if you use the restroom when you’re in a school:
“Can a toilet promote virus transmission? From a fluid dynamics perspective” https://aip.scitation.org/doi/10.1063/5.0013318
“Can a toilet promote virus transmission? From a fluid dynamics perspective” https://aip.scitation.org/doi/10.1063/5.0013318
Here’s the central issue they’re discussing:
“Blocking the path of fecal–oral transmission, which occurs commonly in toilet usage, is of fundamental importance in suppressing the spread of viruses.”
AKA, you don’t want poop reaching your mouth from someone who has COVID-19.
“Blocking the path of fecal–oral transmission, which occurs commonly in toilet usage, is of fundamental importance in suppressing the spread of viruses.”
AKA, you don’t want poop reaching your mouth from someone who has COVID-19.
Yes, gross, I know. But welcome to the real world folks.
If you open this study up, it has excellent powerpoints and equations I cannot explain well. I will admit, that I once again, am not a medical or scientific expert.
But I can read an academic paper.
If you open this study up, it has excellent powerpoints and equations I cannot explain well. I will admit, that I once again, am not a medical or scientific expert.
But I can read an academic paper.
If you want the TL;DR version, here’s something from the abstract:
“The simulation results are alarming in that massive upward transport of virus particles is observed, with 40%–60% of particles reaching above the toilet seat, leading to large-scale virus spread.”
“The simulation results are alarming in that massive upward transport of virus particles is observed, with 40%–60% of particles reaching above the toilet seat, leading to large-scale virus spread.”
This is not something that is discussed much. But it was explained in an episode of @vox #explained on @Netflix called #thenextpandemic in this clip that probably will be deleted (sorry!)
Here’s the three recommendations this paper makes:
“Faced with these alarming results, we advocate several safe procedures to adopt when using a toilet:
1. Put the toilet lid down before flushing, which can basically prevent virus transmission.
“Faced with these alarming results, we advocate several safe procedures to adopt when using a toilet:
1. Put the toilet lid down before flushing, which can basically prevent virus transmission.
2. Clean the toilet seat before using it, since floating virus particles could have settled on its surface.
3. Wash hands carefully after flushing, since virus particles may be present on the flush button and door handle.”
3. Wash hands carefully after flushing, since virus particles may be present on the flush button and door handle.”
So, how feasible is this? Well, now we’re going to walk away from a peer-reviewed scientific article and move to personal experience. I have never been to a school where this is all possible.
Why? I’m glad you asked.
Why? I’m glad you asked.
In most schools, there are:
No lids on the toilets.
No cleaning supplies ready for the toilet.
No dispenser for the toilet paper, so people unravel it by hand.
No windows in the bathroom.
No toilets that are more than two feet apart.
Soap? That’s a maybe.
No lids on the toilets.No cleaning supplies ready for the toilet.No dispenser for the toilet paper, so people unravel it by hand.No windows in the bathroom.No toilets that are more than two feet apart.Soap? That’s a maybe.
There have been quite a few talks about all of the “strategies” for keeping kids safe in the classroom. But we may need some of this “potty mouth” talk to hold a real discussion on how to keep them safe in the bathroom.
Oh yeah, and school funding is still being cut.
Oh yeah, and school funding is still being cut.
#FundOurSchools #SafeBathrooms #SafeSchools #wewontdieforDOE #OnlyWhenItsSafe #RefuseToReturn #UnionStrong
CC: @UFT @NYCSchools @FollowCSA @MOREcaucusUFT @NYCMayor @DOEChancellor @MarkTreyger718 @nycpa @JumaaneWilliams @BrianLehrer @UFTSafety @safeschoolsny @AQE_NY @Blm_edu_nyc
CC: @UFT @NYCSchools @FollowCSA @MOREcaucusUFT @NYCMayor @DOEChancellor @MarkTreyger718 @nycpa @JumaaneWilliams @BrianLehrer @UFTSafety @safeschoolsny @AQE_NY @Blm_edu_nyc
Hey, time for a follow-up: urinals.
Yesterday, Physics of Fluids published another paper that posed the following question:
“Can a male-oriented urinal promote the virus transmission?”
By “male-oriented,” they mean person with a penis, all the same... https://aip.scitation.org/doi/full/10.1063/5.0021450
Yesterday, Physics of Fluids published another paper that posed the following question:
“Can a male-oriented urinal promote the virus transmission?”
By “male-oriented,” they mean person with a penis, all the same... https://aip.scitation.org/doi/full/10.1063/5.0021450
Here’s what the study found:
“Similar to toilet flushing, alarming results are discovered:
(1) more than 57% of the particles have traveled away from the urinal;
(2) constant diffusion tendency is uncovered due to relatively considerable diffusion velocity;
“Similar to toilet flushing, alarming results are discovered:
(1) more than 57% of the particles have traveled away from the urinal;
(2) constant diffusion tendency is uncovered due to relatively considerable diffusion velocity;
(3) only in 5.5 s, the highest position of 0.84 m is reached, where the climbing speed is significantly higher than in the toilet-induced diffusion.
According to this Letter and our previous contribution, wearing masks when in public washrooms should be mandatorily implemented.”
According to this Letter and our previous contribution, wearing masks when in public washrooms should be mandatorily implemented.”
The paper also states that “[i]t can be predicted that in public restrooms, especially those in densely populated areas, urinals are used more frequently and particles will travel faster and fly farther, which poses a great challenge to the public health.”
![The paper also states that “[i]t can be predicted that in public restrooms, especially those in densely populated areas, urinals are used more frequently and particles will travel faster and fly farther, which poses a great challenge to the public health.”](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Efz_aSeWkAMp2_t.jpg "The paper also states that “[i]t can be predicted that in public restrooms, especially those in densely populated areas, urinals are used more frequently and particles will travel faster and fly farther, which poses a great challenge to the public health.”")
Our bathrooms with urinals now present additional risks for us to consider.
The question is, how is mandatory mask-wearing to be enforced in a bathroom?
And what effect will these particles have on PPE such as masks?
Is there tech to step away from the urinal or shield it?
The question is, how is mandatory mask-wearing to be enforced in a bathroom?
And what effect will these particles have on PPE such as masks?
Is there tech to step away from the urinal or shield it?
Again, with each step, we are left with many more questions than answered.
The health of our students should be part of every discussion.
#wewontdieforDOE #OnlyWhenItsSafe #RefuseToReturn #UnionStrong
The health of our students should be part of every discussion.
#wewontdieforDOE #OnlyWhenItsSafe #RefuseToReturn #UnionStrong
How is it that this is really me continuing this thread now? https://twitter.com/morecaucusuft/status/1303170836954783744?s=21
57% of bathrooms have poor ventilation. That means MOST bathrooms by the numbers should not be used.
What if a school has 100% unusable bathrooms.
What if a school has 100% unusable bathrooms.
Why wasn’t a bathroom-staff/student ratio considered?
I can’t. I just can’t.
