Wynn with Fist Bumps: Premier giving healthy handshakes

Kathleen Wynn demonstrates how to give a fist bump.

TORONTO, Feb. 1, 2015 /CNW/ - The University Health Network announced today is

the beginning of Fist Bump the Flu Season. Kathleen Wynn was busy kicking off the

campaign by giving fist bumps today at Toronto Western hospital.

Direct contact between individuals gives greater efficiency of pathogen transmission.

According to the American Journal of Infection control, fist bumps spread the least

amount of pathogens in comparison to handshakes or high fives.

“Fist bumps seem to be the wisest greeting, especially during cold and flu season,” said

researcher David Whitworth of Aberystwyth University in Wales.

Researchers conducted tests to find out if different greetings had different rates of

bacteria transmission. The findings indicate that handshakes spread twice as much

bacteria than high fives. Fist bumps reliably exhibited the least amount of bacteria

transmission. Fewer bacteria is spread because of less contact and smaller surface

area.

Kathleen Wynn believes in this endeavour and will be visiting all the hospitals in the

network this week to help raise awareness and promote the cause. It is crucial the

public get involved with this campaign as it would decrease sickness and help save the

province money in healthcare.

This cold and flu season let us all be aware of how we can stop the spread of sickness

by doing something simple and free like fist bumps.

For more information, please visit

http://www.ajicjournal.org/article/S0196 6553(14)00659 2/abstract .

About University Health Network

University Health Network consists of Princess Margaret Hospitals, Toronto Western,

Toronto General and Toronto Rehabilitation Institute. The network is a world renowned

leader in research with major research in the fields of rehabilitation medicine,

cardiology, transplantation, oncology, neurosciences, infectious diseases and genomic

medicine. UHN is a research hospital affiliated with the University of Toronto. Visit

www.uhn.ca/fistbumptheflu and join in on the conversation by connecting with us

through social media.

We would love to hear your input, you can connect to us here:

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For further information:

Jasdeep Sahota, University Health Network

jasdeepsahota@uhn.ca

416 969 2231 x 335