It’s not the most glamorous subject, we admit, but boy is it important. Here’s why handwashing should not be ignored.
Experts recommend washing your hands with soap and clean water for at least 20 seconds. Be sure to get a good lather going and clean the back of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails. Dry your hands using a clean towel.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention calls handwashing a “do-it-yourself vaccine” and suggests using five easy steps:
- Wet
- Lather
- Scrub
- Rinse
- Dry
The four principles of handwashing are:
- Wash your hands when they are dirty and before you eat (of feed a child)
- Do not cough into hands
- Do not sneeze into hands
- Do not put your fingers in your eyes, nose, or mouth
So why do we need to wash our hands?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, handwashing can prevent one in three diarrhea-related illnesses and one in five infections, including the flu.
The CDC also reports that only 31% of men and 65% of women wash their hands after using a public restroom.
A typical human sneeze exits the body at about 200 miles per hour and emits around 40,000 droplets into the air.
Thinks of how many things you touch during an average day. Now imagine how many of those things were touched by other people’s hands. Yuck! Remember to wash your hands to prevent the spread of germs.
Central Counties Health Centers 