Useful Tips For Washing Your Hands Properly

Handwashing helps stop germ spread and maintain health. It's very effective and easy to do but many people do it wrong, which can spread diseases. We'll talk about why properly wash hands is important, give tips on how to do it right, and look at when it's vital for keeping clean and avoiding sickness.

The Importance of Handwashing

We touch many surfaces and objects every day, so our hands can spread germs and bacteria. Constantly being exposed to germs can make you sick with colds, flu, and stomach bugs. Proper handwashing is vital for good health and stopping the spread of diseases. Everyone should make it a habit.

Handwashing is crucial because it lowers the chances of getting sick for us and those near us. Washing our hands often removes germs and bacteria we get from touching things. This helps stop infections from spreading.

Handwashing is important in certain places where infections can easily spread. These include healthcare facilities, food preparation places, and childcare centers. Proper hand hygiene is also crucial in places with vulnerable people like patients, the elderly, and young children. They may have weakened immune systems and get infections easily. Healthcare workers, food handlers, and childcare providers can make the environment safer and healthier by washing their hands regularly and following strict hygiene practices. This helps reduce the spread of diseases.

Tips for Proper Handwashing

• Wet Your Hands: Begin by wetting your hands with clean, running water. It is preferable to use warm water, but cold water can also be used if it is unavailable. Make sure to wet your entire hands, including your wrists.
• Apply Soap: Apply a sufficient amount of soap to your hands. It is unnecessary to use antibacterial soap, as regular soap effectively removes germs when used correctly.
• Lather and Scrub: Create a soapy lather by rubbing your hands together. Make sure to cover all areas of your hands, including the backs, between fingers, and under nails. Scrub your hands vigorously for at least 20 seconds, as this is the minimum amount of time required to remove germs effectively. To ensure you are scrubbing for the correct amount of time, you can hum the "Happy Birthday" song twice.
• Rinse: Wash your hands well with running water until all the soap is gone. Rinse well, as any remaining soap can cause skin irritation and dryness.
• Dry: Dry your hands using a clean towel, air dryer, or paper towel. Drying your hands is important when washing them. It helps prevent the spreading of germs from wet hands.

When to Wash Your Hands

Some of the key instances in which you should wash your hands include:

• Before and After Preparing Food: Before preparing food, wash your hands to avoid transferring germs to it. Make sure to wash your hands after touching raw meat, poultry, or seafood. These foods may have harmful bacteria that can make you sick.
• Before Eating: Before eating, wash your hands to get rid of germs from surfaces or objects you touched all day.
• After Using the Restroom: After using the restroom, wash your hands to get rid of germs that may be on surfaces or toilet handles.
• After Touching Animals or Animal Waste: After being around animals, their feed, or waste, make sure to wash your hands. These things can have harmful bacteria and parasites.
• After Handling Garbage: After handling garbage, wash your hands to avoid germs and bacteria.
• After Caring for Someone Who Is Sick: After taking care of someone who is sick or has a weakened immune system, be sure to wash your hands. They may be more prone to infections.

Stay Connected!

Related Articles

• How Infection Control makes a Difference in your Office
• Sanitize Your Hands on the Go
  
• Infection Prevention & You
• 5 Different Types Of Hand Sanitizer Explained

Back to Articles