Personal Hygiene - Hand Washing
by Ronnee Ruselle
Why are good hand washing habits important?
Proper hand washing can significantly reduce the spread of bacteria and viruses. One survey reported that 94% of people surveyed claimed to wash their hands after using the bathroom, but when they were observed, only 68% of people actually did.
Just last week, I myself witnessed a lady in a public bathroom after using the toilets who turned the tap on, just dipped the tip of her fingers under the water and then shook it off as she walked out of the bathroom. I couldn't bring myself to touch the same door handle as her because it really made me wonder how many people that day had done the very same thing - perhaps hundreds and that would add up to millions each year. Who knows what diseases were crawling on that handle? It really annoyed me, because here I was trying to teach my child good hygiene habits while she watched other grown ups contradict that with their actions and by doing so, they endangered the health of themselves, their families and countless others whom they don't even know.
Washing your hands can help prevent common illnesses like the cold, but also more serious illnesses such as meningitis, bronchiolitis, influenza, hepatitis A, and most types of infectious diarrhoea
Most people don't know how to wash their hands correctly but it's worth doing it properly no matter how much of a hurry you are in. Would you drink a cup of bacteria from a friend? No? Then you also wouldn't want it when you shake their hand either. Here is how a person should correctly wash their hands in order to prevent the spread of disease.
How to wash your hands properly
- Firstly wet your hands with water - preferably warm.
- Use enough soap to produce a good lather or foam. Plain soap will work as well as an antibacterial soap.
- Rub your hands together vigorously for 20 seconds - count them to make sure you're washing them for long enough. Shorter than that will not kill off the bacteria properly and is really a waste of time. Make sure that you wash not only your fingers, but between the fingers, your palms, the tops of your hands and your wrists.
- Rinse your hands under warm water.
- Pat your hands dry. This is important because bacteria can breed quickly on the wet skin so ensure that your hands are thoroughly dry including between the fingers, under rings etc. If you're using a public toilet, try to turn the tap off using a paper towel so you do not reinfect yourself after your careful cleaning. If at home, make sure to give your nails a good scrub with a nail brush.
- If you wear gloves, it's important to wash your hands before donning the gloves and after removing them. They do help to prevent the spread of bacteria from hands to food and vice versa, but should not be used in place of hand washing.
If you wash your hands often in the course of your day, then you may wish to consider using a hand moisturizer.
When you should wash your hands.
- Before handling any food - even if it's only picking up a piece of fruit. Raw food especially always requires hand washing before and after including meat, poultry, eggs and fish.
- Before inserting contact lenses or anything else into your body including piercings.
- Before looking after anyone who is sick or injured. You should also wash after visiting or looking after someone who is unwell. It is the only way to be sure not to transmit any bacteria especially if you've come into contact with any body fluids such as vomit, saliva, mucus etc.
- Before and after putting your finger in your mouth, nose, eye, ear etc.
- After handling garbage.
- After using the toilet.
- Before and after eating.
- After touching any animal, animal waste or their living areas.
- After cleaning the house.
- After being outside especially gardening or playing.
- After blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing.
Washing your hands properly when required will soon become a healthy habit that will lower the amount of sickness that you and those around you experience.
Happy Handwashing!