Dos and Don’ts of Hand Washing

It's been said that 80% of all infectious diseases are transmitted by touch. Hand washing is one of the easiest and best ways to prevent infection. Let’s learn how to do it right.

Infections can come from anywhere. Washing your hands from time to time might not keep you away from all of them, but it can definitely help avoid a few. Hand washing is simple, requires just water and soap or in absence of that, a sanitizer.

Why you should wash your hands

People interact with each other, shake hands, go to various places, use various objects and even use common washrooms. It is important to remain germ-free after doing all this. Touching your nose, mouth or eyes with unclean hands can also infect you. Frequent hand washing does not make you germ-free but reduces the transfer of bacteria, viruses and other microbes to a certain limit.
When you should wash your hands

Wash your hands before:

·         Cooking or eating food
·         Wearing or taking off contact lenses
·         Cleaning wounds and giving medicine
·         Treating a sick person
·         Playing with a newborn baby

Wash your hands after:

·         Having food
·         Coming home from anywhere
·         Using pesticides or other agents like mosquito or cockroach killers
·         Using the toilet
·         Touching and playing with animals
·         Cleaning wounds or treating a sick person
·         Blowing your nose, sneezing or coughing into your hand
·         Using chemicals in the garden, throwing garbage or any other such household chores
 
How to wash your hands

You wash your hands everyday and might think it is a silly to read a “how-to” on it but it is always better to refresh your ideas and remind yourself on how to do things right.

Generally, handwash/soap and water are used to wash hands. The simple steps are as follows:

·         Wet your hands
·         Apply soap or hand wash
·         Form lather
·         Rub both the hands. Try to clean in between fingers, under the nails and the back of your hands along with wrists. Rub for some 20 seconds
·         Pat dry with a clean or disposable towel or use air dryer

When to use a sanitizer

Alcohol based sanitizer can be used when water and soap are not available. It is important that your sanitizer contain at least 60% alcohol.

How to use a sanitizer

·         Take a small quantity of sanitizer in your hands and rub it to wet your hands completely.
·         Rub it till your hands are dry.

Kids and hand washing

Good habits must be cultivated from childhood. Kids must be encouraged to wash hands regularly. The best way to teach them is by being a good example. Tell them to sing a line of their favourite song as they wash their hands to stop them from rushing the process

It is okay for the kids to use sanitizers. They are not harmful. Teach them how to use it properly. Warn them strictly to rub till the alcohol dries. Store the container out of their reach or they will be tempted to use it time and again either for the smell or for the cold feeling it gives for few moments before getting dried.
 
Wash your way to health

Though soap may not kill every virus it comes across, it definitely decreases the viral count and brings it below the infectious threshold. It is neither time consuming, nor does it take any major effort. Wash your hands often to fall sick less often.