Importance of Washing hands

                                       

                    When we do not wash our hands with soap and clean water, the germs on our hands enter our body while we eat, prepare food, o when we touch our eyes, nose and mouth. The germs can also be transferred to other people when we shake hands or give something. Washing our hand is important because it is the best and most effective way to avoid getting sick and to stop the spread of germs and making others sick. Even when we don't realize it, we have germs on our hands.

                  So how do these germs get on our hand ? simple. Throughout the day we touch many things which are not clean (though we think them are such as furniture, pets, toys and money etc. The dirt and germs from the surface of these things accumulate on our hands and clothes when we don't wash our hands, Did you know that the simple practice of hand washing can help you avoid catching diseases such as cold, flu and diarrheas'? how bad it feels when you have the cold and you cannot eat Ice cream or go to your friends birthday party or a cousins wedding you were looking forward too. Your Mom does not allow you to eat Pizza or Burger because you have an upset tummy or diarrhea, if mild, these diseases are cured in couple of days, but they can some time turn serious and can even result in death. However, you should know that the habit of hand washing is the simplest and the most inexpensive way to reduce the number of children who get sick with the diseases such a diarrhea and acute respiratory infections like pneumonia, which kill about 3.5 million children annually under the age of five.

                   Keeping hands clean can prevent out of three cases of diarrhea and one in five respiratory infections, such as cold, flu, cutting deaths from diarrhea by almost half and deaths from acute respiratory infections by one quarter. So you see making it a habit to wash hands with soap before eating, after using the Toilet, handling money or returning from outside, can save more lives than one would imagine. As the world realize the importance of hand washing, in order to spread the message, the global handwashing partnership, an International Coalition that brings together expertise, ideas, experience and sources of the public and private sectors. Initiated the global hand washing day in 2008, which was also the International Year of Sanitation.

                The Global Hand Washing day is observed everyday on October 15 since 2008, this day is used to spread awareness about the value of hand washing, which is simple practice but can really make all the difference and save lives. Those who have the habit of washing their hands with soap and water are not benefitting, as since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic last year, health experts have recommended that washing our hands for 20 seconds with soap and water and using hand sanitizer after touching anything is the best defense against Covid-19, of course along with wearing a Mask.

            Fore me at least, hand washing has become second nature. Now you have learned that washing your hands frequently can keep you healthy and prevent the spread of various diseases from one person to the other, you should make it a habit so as to prevent the spread of germs. You may have some people around you who are not aware of the importance of hand washing, so please gently tell them what is good for them without sounding pompous or being rude. If you learn that they do not have access to clean water or soap, try to help them out as it is only through improved hand hygiene at the community level that we can all stay healthy. Now just a reminder it is best to clean your hands before and after touching your eyes, nose or mouth, touching your Mask, using the Toilet, entering and leaving a public place and touching an item or surface that is frequently touched by other people such as door handles, tables, shopping carts, elevator button etc.

                  Debunking common hand washing myths.

                    Hand sanitizers and replace washing your hands with soap and water--- false. Washing hands with soap and water is the best and most effective way to reduce the number of microbes and germs on hands. Although alcohol based at least 60 % hand sanitizer can quickly reduce the number of microbes on our hands in some situations, they are not as effective as soap and water when it comes to removing and in activating gastrointestinal illness causing germs such as Cryptosporidium, norovirus and Clostridium difficile. The hotter, the water, you use for hand washing, the better----- False.

                    Studies show that water temperature does not effect microbes removal. Hot water can also dry out the skin, which leaves your skin more susceptible to germs and can make hand washing painful. It is best to wash your hands with the temperature that you find comfortable. You don't have to dry your hands after washing them---- False. Studies show that germs can be more easily transferred to and wet hands, which is why drying hands is essential to staving of bacteria after hand washing. Hand dryers are more hygienic than paper toilets----- False. 

                    In studies conducted by Mayo Clinic (Minn) and University of West minister, London, researchers found that paper towels can help to remove bacteria unlike air dryers which can increase bacteria counts. Because air dryers have been shown to spread bacteria between three and six feet from the device, paper, towels are also far less likely to contaminate other rest rooms user. Follow these steps every time to wash your hands.

1.  Wet your hands with clean running water, warm or cold turn off the tap and apply soap.

2.  Leather your hands by rubbing together with the soap. Leather the backs of your hands, between your fingers and under your nails.

3.  Scrub your hands for at least twenty seconds. Need a timer? Hum. "Happy Birthday" song from beginning to end twice.

4.  Rinse your hands well under clean water.

5.  Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dray them