There are microbes, germs, and viruses everywhere, exposing people to risks of various illnesses, such as cold, flu, infections, and other bacteria-born maladies. While there are medicines that can counter these ailments, prevention is always better than a cure. You can greatly protect yourself by simply washing your hands.
Any health professional will tell you that proper hand hygiene goes a long way in protecting yourself against disease-causing bacteria. Because 80% of infections are transmitted through the hands, it’s necessary to keep them sanitized at all times. Touching contaminated surfaces and then your face is the most common means of contracting germs and bacteria. Those with weakened immune systems most at risk.
Hand hygiene doesn’t just mean washing your hands. Just as you learned in grade school or camp, there is a proper way of doing it. No matter your age, you need to follow the rudiments to keep germs at bay.
Rinse Before Soaping
You have to clean your hands under running water first. The water should be running to totally remove any dust and particles on your hands, since standing water may just make you reabsorb the dirt. While washing, rub your skin lightly, especially on spots that have visible dirt or dust.
Use Soap to Lather
Antiseptic soap is recommended and it can be in liquid, powder, or bar form. Apply just enough quantity and lather your hands for at least 20 seconds. Rub the back of your hands, the fingertips, and between the fingers to take out dirt that’s hiding in those crevices. You should also wash the bottom third of your forearms.
Rinse and Dry
Once you lathered your hands enough, rinse them thoroughly. Continue rubbing even if all the soap has been washed away. After finishing, don’t forget to dry your hands to avoid air-borne germs that can stick to your wet hands. Use a dry, clean towel or paper towels to remove moisture.
Avoid Re-contamination
There’s always a risk of re-contamination, especially if you’re in a public washroom where many people use the same items there, not the least being doors and doorknobs. To avoid this, turn the faucet off by using a towel instead of your hands and similarly use a towel to touch other points of hand contact. You may also want to keep the door open when washing your hands so that you won’t have to touch the doorknob on your way out.
These steps should be repeated before and after preparing food, eating, touching dirty objects, and tending to a wound, among other activities. Combining hand hygiene with proper diet and regular exercise will make you even more resilient to illnesses. In case you feel any symptoms of sickness, such as dizziness, sore throat, or fever, seek urgent care in Pasadena, TX to treat these symptoms so that your illness does not worsen.
Sources:
Fighting Colds and Flu with Proper Hand Hygiene, Cleanlink.com
Hand Hygiene Do’s and Don’ts to Prevent Infections, Healthtype.com
