CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the study
The basic function of a hand dryer is to dry hands using an electric source. Hand hygiene is a very important aspect in preventing spread of communicable diseases. Since many disease-caused by germs spread through touch, hand dryers were devised so that people can dry their hands without actually touching the roll of towel available for common use in public restrooms. Hand drying machines not only help in maintaining hygiene, but also help in reducing waste produced by the use of towels.
Some years back, these devices were switched on using a button. When the button was pressed, the device started blowing warm air for drying hands. But nowadays hand dryers have infrared motion sensors installed in them. The device detects motion and automatically turns on when hands are placed for drying. Similarly, it automatically turns off when hands are moved away from the dryer, thereby preventing wastage of electricity.
Warm air is produced by a hand dryer using a heating coil made up of Nichrome, a hybrid of chromium and nickel. The warm air is then blown out of the device through a tube or a vent facing downwards. Hands are placed in the path of warm air coming out of hand dryer for drying. The warmth and pressure of air coming out of the dryer is sufficient to evaporate water from wet hands. First, the air pressure blows off water droplets from the hands and then the warmth dries out the moisture from the hands. Traditional hand dryers need around 45 seconds to dry hands, whereas new-age dryers take around 15 seconds to do this task.Â
1.2 Statement of the problem
The transmission of bacteria and other micro-organisms is most likely to occur fromwet skin than from dry skin. Careful hand drying is a critical factor determining the level of touch-contact associated bacterial transfer following hand washing. Hence, the proper drying of hands should be anintegral component of effective hand hygiene procedures in health care settings.
