With so many things you hear about how to wash your hands and what to wash them with, it’s natural to get confused. And that is exactly why we did a story on some of the most common myths that abound about hand washing.
It is important to make sure your hands are washed and clean, as hand hygiene is an important part of your entire hygiene system. Here are some things you need to keep in mind.
Wash Your Hands At These Times, Not All Day
- Before and after cooking or eating
- Before handling contact lenses
- After changing a baby’s diaper
- After using the washroom
- Before and after handling a wound or medication
- After touching a pet or pet’s things
- When you have a cold or cough
- After coming in contact with any garbage, or gardening supplies or tools
The Right Way To Wash Your Hands
- First wet your hand and apply soap, whether liquid or bar soap.
- Lather and keep rubbing your hands for at least 20 to 30 seconds. Make sure you clean on the palm, on the outer surface of your hands, between the fingers and also around the nail area.
- Rinse with water and dry with a towel or paper tissue.
Using A Hand Sanitizer
In case you do not have access to water and any type of soap, use a hand sanitizer. Here’s what you need to keep in mind:
- Add a few drops of the sanitizer on your palm and spread it across both sides, the inner and outer part of the hand.
- Start rubbing your hands together and also spread the sanitizer between your fingers as well as around your nails. Keep doing so till your hands are completely dry.
Common Diseases Spread By Dirty Hands
Here are some of the most common diseases that are spread as a result of dirty hands:
- Flu: a type of viral infection which is actually a very contagious respiratory disease. It is caused by the influenza A or B virus.
- Cold and cough: spreads when the affected person does not wash hands after coughing, sneezing or blowing the nose and hence spreads the germs further.
- Diarrhoea: a form of very loose motions which is usually caused by bacteria, parasites or virus. It can also include conditions such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) which causes pain in the abdomen as well as loose motions or constipation, Crohn’s Disease which causes inflammation in the intestines and can lead to ulcers, ulcerative colitis which causes inflammation in the colon and rectum.
- Viral infection
- Salmonella infection: a type of disease that occurs in the intestinal tract because of bacteria. It can lead to food poisoning, fever, typhoid and other health issues.
- Hand foot mouth disease: a type of viral infection that occurs in infants or children who are younger than 5 years. Common signs include sores in the mouth, fever, rashes on the skin and such.
- Respiratory issues
Washing your hands barely takes a few seconds, at most a minute, but not cleaning them properly can lead to a host of illnesses. Start cleaning your hands the right way and stay healthy the easy and effective way.
