We serve as a trusted resource for the latest news and helpful information related to skin health and surface hygiene advancements. GOJO microbiologists, scientists,
nurses and other professionals post regularly
and we also get the views of outside experts and
thought leaders in the field. It’s all part of the
GOJO Purpose, Saving Lives and Making Lives Better Through Well-Being Solutions.
Dawn Yeomans, Ph.D.
Research Principal, GOJO Industries
Dr. Dawn Yeomans joined GOJO Industries in 2020, having spent more than 15 years supporting product development and advancing science and technology at leading FMCG companies including Procter & Gamble and Unilever. In her role at GOJO, Dr. Yeomans is responsible for new product innovation – ensuring GOJO continues to deliver market-leading, superior hygiene solutions to uniquely meet our customers’ needs. Dr. Yeomans holds a BSc. degree in Biochemistry, MSc. degree in Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, and PhD degree in Biomedical Sciences. Her areas of technical expertise are in skin health and hygiene science. For information on her research, visit her ORCiD.
Recognizing a Fellow Female Scientist in Honor of Black History Month
2/1/2022
By Dawn Yeomans, Ph.D.
Research Principal, GOJO Industries
February is Black History Month. For me, this is a time where I pause and reflect on the contributions of Black women who blazed a trail for me. As a young woman attending college in the late 1990s, I was one of only a few female biochemistry majors. Twenty years later, more than 50 percent of Ph.D.'s in the Biological Sciences are earned by women. It was the dedicated work of many female leaders that paved the road for access to advanced degrees, providing inspiration and mentorship and forging non-traditional career paths for women in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Medicine (STEM) fields.
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4 Cleaning Steps to Avoid a Flu Outbreak on Your Campus
12/9/2021
By Dawn Yeomans, Ph.D.
Research Principal, GOJO Industries
With the fall semester wrapping up and students looking forward to a return to classes in 2022, many colleges and universities are on high alert to see just how bad the flu season will be this year. Obviously, schools want to reduce the impact of flu as well as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Healthy students learn better, and healthy teachers teach better. Unlike previous years, we have no idea what to expect for the 2021-2022 flu season.
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Helping Kids Avoid the “Winter-Hand Blues”
11/9/2021
By Dawn Yeomans, Ph.D.
Research Principal, GOJO Industries
Do your kids suffer from dry, damaged, irritated hands as the weather grows colder? If so, they’re not alone. Winter weather is not fun for skin; cold weather, low humidity, and indoor heating create dry air, which steals moisture away from the skin every second of every day. Scientific studies have shown that the top layers of skin, called the stratum corneum, hold 25% less water in low humidity conditions.
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Bouncing Back After a COVID Outbreak in Your School
9/30/2021
By Dawn Yeomans, Ph.D.
Research Principal, GOJO Industries
With trusted organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics advocating for in-person learning this school year, keeping schools open and safe for students and staff is a top priority. Unfortunately, no matter how good your school's infection prevention strategy and how many mitigation layers it contains, COVID-19 outbreaks and school closures are on the rise, with schools across the country temporarily shutting down as infection rates soar in their classrooms and communities.
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Interactive Hand Hygiene Experiments for K-12 Students
8/10/2021
By Dawn Yeomans, Ph.D.
Research Principal, GOJO Industries
Schools are germy settings. As students go about their day at school, they touch shared objects like computer mice, water fountains, gym equipment, or the lunch checkout keypad, which contains thousands of germs. Some of those germs will hang out on their hands and can be introduced into their bodies when they touch their eyes, nose, and mouth.
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Aren’t All Hand Soaps Essentially the Same?
7/20/2021
By Dawn Yeomans, Ph.D.
Research Principal, GOJO Industries
The short answer is a confusing “yes and no.” We’ve all had the experience of using a soap that didn’t lather properly or that left our skin feeling tight and dry. This is because the soap formulation itself – as well as the practice related to dispensing the formulation – matter, for how the soap performs and feels during use, its germ and dirt removal efficacy, and how the soap leaves skin feeling after use. Here’s a little science to help understand why something as simple as soap can perform so differently and what to look out for when choosing a hand soap for your school district or college campus.
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What Chemicals Are In Your School's Cleaning Products?
7/6/2021
By Dawn Yeomans, Ph.D.
Research Principal, GOJO Industries
With back-to-school right around the corner, our hopes for the 2021-2022 school year are for our children to return to an in-person learning environment that is safe and healthy for all. But, unfortunately, some products used to disinfect school facilities are a better choice than others, especially for use around children.
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Tips for Getting the Cleanest Hands in Schools
6/28/2021
By Dawn Yeomans, Ph.D.
Research Principal, GOJO Industries
Keeping hands clean is one of the best ways to reduce germs that may cause illness in all settings, but particularly for schools. When germs such as those that cause flu, stomach bugs, and the common cold get onto hands and are not removed, they can be transmitted from person to person, causing outbreaks of infections. Germs from contaminated hands can also be transferred to surfaces and other objects, thus spreading the infection further. As germy settings, schools need the right tools, products, and guidance to promote effective and consistent hand hygiene practices among students and staff.
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Is Your School’s Hand Sanitizer Safe? Is It Being Used?
6/1/2021
By Dawn Yeomans, Ph.D.
Research Principal, GOJO Industries
Also By Amanda Kaye
Market Development Director, GOJO Industries
Is your school sitting on a glut of hand sanitizer purchased at the height of the pandemic? If you answered “yes” to this question, you are not alone. Most school districts have stocks of hand sanitizer, so believe they’re covered for a safe return to in-person learning. This may be true, however many of the products that schools stocked up on during the pandemic are not safe or effective. Additionally, many schools are “topping off containers” of alcohol-based hand sanitizer, which according to the CDC, poses a potential safety risk, such as inadvertent contamination or reduced efficacy due to alcohol evaporation.
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Reopen & Stay Open: The Vital Role of Surface Disinfection in Schools
5/3/2021
By Dawn Yeomans, Ph.D.
Research Principal, GOJO Industries
Should we wear one mask or layer two? Should we maintain a social distance of 3 feet or 6 feet? Is quarantining needed for 10 days or 14 days? Let’s face it, this pandemic is unprecedented, and over the last year we have been learning about what hygiene practices we need to take in our schools – and in our communities – to prevent the continued spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19. While recommendations have evolved throughout the course of the pandemic, the overall guidance has been consistent – multiple mitigation strategies should be taken to help schools open and remain open safely during the pandemic. The focus of this article is on the importance of surface disinfection in schools.
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