While it seems obvious, and simple, hand hygiene is often overlooked. Whether at home, or at work, washing your hands properly (and regularly) can significantly reduce spreading sicknesses and illnesses to others. It’s also essential to maintain your own health.
In today’s blog, we want to highlight the importance of hand hygiene and how you can help keep yourself and others free from germs.
The Importance of Hand Washing
Washing your hands is the most effective way to avoid spreading germs. Your hands are one of your most used body parts, and they touch a variety of surfaces throughout the day. Whether it is machinery, office equipment, light switches, or door handles, keeping your hands clean is key to staying healthy.
Always remember to wash your hands, especially in these situations:
• When you touch your eyes, nose, mouth, or face.
• If your hands are dirty.
• After using the restroom.
• Following a sneeze or when blowing your nose into your hands.
• Before and after eating, handling food, cooking, drinking, or smoking.
• After touching raw meat, poultry, or fish.
• After dealing with trash or touching contaminated surfaces like garbage cans or dirty cleaning cloths.
• When visiting or caring for sick individuals.
• After wiping someone else’s nose or handling soiled tissues.
• Before preparing or taking medications.
• When caring for a sick person, especially after contact with blood or bodily fluids such as vomit or saliva.
• Before and after treating cuts or wounds.
• Before inserting or removing contact lenses.
• When handling pets, animals, or animal waste.
• After dealing with pet food or treats.
How to Wash Your Hands Effectively
To wash your hands properly, make sure to follow these steps:
1. Remove all rings and jewelry.
2. Turn on the tap and thoroughly wet your hands.
3. Apply soap and create a rich lather.
4. Rub your hands together for at least 20 seconds, ensuring you clean all fingers, including thumbs, between fingers, under nails, and both sides of your hands, as well as your wrists and forearms.
5. Rinse your hands well under clean, running water, using a rubbing motion to eliminate all soap residue.
6. Dry your hands with a paper towel or a clean towel. Air dryers, while convenient, may potentially spread viruses.
7. If possible, use a paper towel to turn off the taps to avoid re-contaminating your hands.
8. Protect your hands from touching dirty surfaces as you exit the bathroom.
Additional tips for proper hand hygiene include:
- Cover any cuts with bandages and consider wearing gloves for extra protection since cuts can easily become infected.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
- Treat every contact with human body fluids as potentially infectious.
- Choose liquid soap in disposable containers for optimal hygiene; if using reusable containers, clean them well before refilling. For bar soap, place it on a rack that allows water drainage or use small bars that can be frequently replaced.
Washing your hands is a basic, but effective way to keep yourself and others free of germs and unwanted sicknesses. Remember to stay safe and keep those hands clean!