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Want
To Help Fight Disease? Just Wash Your Hands
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One of the most effective methods for
preventing the spread
of disease-causing bacteria and other germs is a simple
act
most of us perform everyday: washing our hands. What we
don’t do is perform this act properly or often
enough. In this
age of SARS and other serious diseases that are spread
by human contact, practicing good hand washing habits can
provide an effective extra line of defense for you and
everyone
around you. |
“With over 80 percent of infectious disease being spread by
human contact, it’s
amazing how little care most of us take when washing our hands,”
says Dr. Philip
M. Tierno Jr., author of “The Secret Life of Germs” (Pocket
Books, Nov. 2001).
“When researchers put cameras in public restrooms to track
people’s behavior,
the numbers of those who don’t wash their hands properly, or
don’t wash them at
all, is staggering, often over ninety percent.”
Dr. Tierno recommends the following regimen:
*Effective hand washing requires both soap and water. Merely
rinsing the hands
with water alone is next to useless.
*Wet your hands thoroughly and lather them with soap
*Rub the soapy water all over the hands and fingers for at
least 20-30 seconds
*Don’t forget to wash under fingernails
*Rinse and repeat
As for frequency, you should wash your hands several times a
day, before
eating, after using a bathroom facility and after coughing or
sneezing on them.
After shaking hands with someone, you should avoid touching your
face or
mouth until an opportunity presents itself to wash up. It also
makes sense to
wash whenever coming in from outside. In public bathrooms, you
should wash
your hands before using the toilet if you have had to touch a
doorknob or other
surface on the way in. When you wash your hands afterward, use a
paper towel
or tissue to shut off the faucet and open the door.
For an added layer of protection, use an anti-bacterial soap
containing a germicide
such as Triclosan. “It seems to me that germicides can be a
valuable support to
good health, especially for groups who are at extra risk when it
comes to infectious
diseases,” says Dr. Tierno. “Children, pregnant women, the
elderly and those with
depressed immune systems are particularly vulnerable. While
germicides are no
substitute for conscientious hygiene, they fight bacteria, have
no side effects and
have not been shown to contribute to increased bacterial
resistance.”
Even if you don’t fall into one of the higher risk groups,
you owe it to others to be
more conscious of hand washing to avoid transmitting germs.
Also, habits are best
formed early on. If there are any children in your home, take
the time to set a good
example and teach them how to wash their hands properly.
For more information on hand washing, visit
www.cleaning101.com/health/health/
Courtesy of ARA Content
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INFECTION CONTROL
