A simple, slightly cheeky piece of workplace wisdom at Scott Air Force Base has gone viral after catching the attention of service members and civilians alike.
The sign, posted outside the Defense Health Agency (DHA) at Scott AFB, reads:
“If It’s WET and NOT yours… Don’t touch it!” Courtesy of Colonel (Dr.) Chrystal Henderson, Commander, 375th Medical Group.
The message, originally intended as a reminder about infection control and hygiene, quickly found its way onto social media — where, of course, the internet did what it does best: turn a practical medical warning into a meme-worthy moment.
Within hours of the photo making rounds online, comment sections were flooded with responses ranging from the practical to the hilarious.
“If it’s dry, also don’t touch it,” one user quipped.
“That’s what she said?” another chimed in.
One commenter summed it up best: “Universal precautions.”
While most laughed at the double entendre, a few long-time service members noted that the phrase was nothing new. “Got this exact advice from my science teacher back in the 90s,” one wrote. And in true military fashion, others simply responded: “Solid advice.”
The name behind the quote belongs to Colonel (Dr.) Chrystal D. Henderson, Commander of the 375th Medical Group at Scott AFB.
Col. Henderson oversees healthcare delivery to more than 60,000 beneficiaries, leading a team of nearly 600 personnel. Her unit provides a wide range of services — from family medicine and physical therapy to diagnostic imaging and emergency care — while partnering with SSM St. Louis University Hospital for inpatient and surgical needs.
A seasoned Air Force physician and leader, Col. Henderson has served since 1998, deploying twice in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Her résumé spans leadership roles at nearly every level, from flight commander to medical group director, across multiple bases worldwide.
She’s earned numerous decorations, including the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal (seven times), and the Afghanistan Campaign Medal.
While the sign may have sparked laughter, it reflects a simple truth that every medical professional — and anyone who’s ever handled field sanitation — knows: when it comes to bodily fluids, assume nothing and use protection.
The phrase echoes the long-standing “universal precautions” mantra drilled into every medic, nurse, and corpsman: treat all biological materials as potentially infectious.
So yes, it’s funny. But it’s also sound advice — the kind of down-to-earth leadership you might expect from someone who’s spent decades balancing medicine, mentorship, and mission readiness.
In a world where military news often revolves around policy shifts, deployments, and equipment upgrades, it’s refreshing to see something a little more human — and a lot more relatable — make waves.
Whether you laughed, cringed, or nodded in agreement, one thing’s certain: Colonel Henderson’s message is hard to forget.
