Why Washing Hand Is Important
The most important thing you can do to keep from getting sick is to wash your hands, handwashing is one of the most important ways of controlling the spread of infections. Good hand washing is the first line of defense against the spread of many illnesses, from the common cold to more serious illnesses such as meningitis, bronchiolitis, influenza, hepatitis A, and most types of infectious diarrhea.
Hand washing is a simple habit that can help keep you healthy. This simple habit requires only soap and warm water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer — a cleanser that doesn’t require water.
Germs can be transmitted many ways, including:
- touching dirty hands
- changing dirty diapers
- through contaminated water and food
- through droplets released during a cough or a sneeze
- via contaminated surfaces
- through contact with a sick person’s body fluids.
Cultivate the habit of washing your hands:
* Before eating
* After using the toilet
* After changing a diaper — wash the diaper-wearer’s hands, too
* After touching animals or animal waste
* Before and after preparing food, especially before and immediately after handling raw meat, poultry or fish
* After blowing your nose
* After coughing or sneezing into your hands
* Before and after treating wounds or cuts
* Before and after touching a sick or injured person
* After handling garbage
* Before inserting or removing contact lenses
* When using public restrooms, such as those in airports, train stations, bus stations and restaurants.
Use Proper Handwashing Techniques
Handwashing is the single most important procedure for preventing the spread of biological contamination. Some few tips of washing hands properly.
- Avoid touching the sink.
- Turn water on using a paper towel and then wet your hands and wrists.
- Work soap into a lather.
- Vigorously rub together all surfaces of the lathered hands for 15 seconds. Friction helps remove dirt and microorganisms. Wash around and under rings, around cuticles, and under fingernails
- Rinse hands thoroughly under a stream of water. Running water carries away dirt and debris. Point fingers down so water and contamination won’t drip toward elbows.
- Dry hands completely with a clean dry paper towel.
- Use a dry paper towel to turn faucet off.
- To keep soap from becoming a breeding place for microorganisms, thoroughly clean soap dispensers before refilling with fresh soap.
- When handwashing facilities are not available at a remote work site, use an appropriate antiseptic hand cleaner or antiseptic towelettes. As soon as possible, rewash hands with soap and running water.
Hand-washing techniques with soap and water includes:
* Wet your hands with warm, running water and apply liquid soap or use clean bar soap. Lather well.
* Rub your hands vigorously together for at least 15 to 20 seconds.
* Scrub all surfaces, including the backs of your hands, wrists, between your fingers and under your fingernails.
* Rinse well.
* Dry your hands with a clean or disposable towel.
* Use a towel to turn off the faucet.
Use warm water
Cold water is better than no water at all for a ‘one off’ hand wash, but should not be used for routine handwashing. Soap lathers (‘soaps up’) better with warm water. The active ingredients on the surface of the soap are released more easily, making them more effective in cleaning your hands of dirt, grease and oils without stripping away the natural oils in your skin. Using cold or hot water can also damage the skin’s natural oils. Over time, this can cause dermatitis.
Soap is important
Soap contains ingredients that will help to:
* Loosen dirt on your hands
* Soften water, making it easier to lather the soap over your hands
* Rinse your hands, leaving no residues to irritate and dry your skin.
Soaps can have different pH – they may be neutral, slightly alkaline or slightly acidic. That’s why some soaps irritate some people and not others. Perfumes in soap can be another reason why some people have skin reactions.
Take care of your hands
Handwashing is only one part of hand hygiene. Looking after your skin generally is important, as your skin is the perfect barrier against infection. After your hands have been dried thoroughly, you can help to look after your hands if you:
* Apply a water-based absorbent handcream three to four times a day, or more frequently if your hands are constantly in water.
* Use gloves to wash dishes to protect your hands.
* Use gloves when gardening to prevent a build-up of ingrained soil or scratches.
* Consult a doctor if a skin irritation develops or continues.
By frequently washing your hands the right way, you’ll wash away germs — such as bacteria and viruses — that you have picked up from other people, through contaminated water and food, from tainted surfaces, or from animals and animal waste.
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April 25 2009 08:44 pm | Healthy Living and The Medical Plus
May 7th, 2009 at 11:35 am
i’m a bit worry about this influenza disease. one of my friend already suspected influenza A positive.
December 21st, 2009 at 9:35 am
Thanks for creating such a informative website. this site is not only informative but also very stimulating too. We find only few professionals who can think to write not so easy content that creatively. Keep up the good work !!