The reality of preventing infection and
guarding against infectious diseases through hand washing only dawned on
many people with the advent of the Ebola Virus Disease. Before now, most people didn’t see the
need to wash their hands with soap and water after using the bathroom,
after a handshake, or before they eat their meals. This is because of
the erroneous belief that once there’s no visible stain or dirt on the
hands, then they are clean.
Again, many people think it’s only
children that should wash their hands because they play with sand and
other dirty things. Experts say, however, that nothing could be further
from the truth!
Hand washing is one of the most
effective means to reducing the spread of infectious diseases, germs,
bacteria or viruses. It also helps protect against food-borne illness
outbreaks. According to scientists at the Centres for Disease Control
and Prevention, approximately half of all food-borne illness outbreaks
are due to people not washing their hands properly.
The scientists warn that the first line of defence against many
infectious diseases is as simple as washing your hands. Indeed, a
recent study at Michigan State
University found that only five per cent of people in a college town
using restrooms properly washed their hands. The study observed over
3,000 people after they had gone to the restroom and discovered that
about 10 percent (384 people) skipped washing their hands altogether;
while about one-third (33 per cent) did not use soap. Of those who did
wash their hands, the average time spent doing so was about six seconds.
The recommended time by the CDC is 15 seconds.
When to wash your hands
The Hygiene Council says we need to wash:
Before eating, feeding children, applying contact lenses, or giving medication or First Aid.
After using the toilet or changing a
child’s nappy, handling domestic animals, contact with blood or body
fluids, coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose. Before and after handling raw food or tending to someone who is sick.
Here is how to do it properly:
Step 1: Wet your hands
with clean running water and work up a generous lather of soap. If
there’s anti-bacterial soap to hand, so much the better.
Step 2: Rub together
your palms, wash the backs of your hands and fingers, wash between your
fingers, and clean your nails by softly scratching them on the palm of
your hand.
Step 3: Rinse and dry thoroughly.
No drip dry
It is also important to dry your hands.
Because bacteria and viruses love moist, damp areas, they will spread to
damp hands — so getting your hands dry is just as important as cleaning
them.
It’s also vital to clean objects that we interact with on a daily basis, including
•Computer keyboards
•Telephones
•Cell phones
•Toothbrushes (should be replaced every three months)
•TV remote controls
•Kitchen sponges, dishcloths, sinks and cutting boards
•Rubbish bins
Keep in mind that a completely sterile
home is neither achievable nor desirable. Without germs, we wouldn’t
have a well-developed immune system. But basic hand hygiene gives you a
better chance of keeping a whole host of nasties at bay.
Comments
Post a Comment
Lasgidi Online readers are solely responsible for their comments, Their comments does not represent the views of the admin.
We have a comment policy, if we find your comment insultive and not good for others to read, we will be forced to remove it.
Thanks.....keep commenting, we love them.