Hand washing and Coronavirus!

Have you ever wished there was a big sign outside the restroom that flashed “DID NOT WASH HANDS”? Most of us think of hand washing after using the restroom.  However, do you wash them correctly?  Most people do not!  I have read up to 95% of people, wash their hands incorrectly.  What is proper technique?  Here is a video to watch.

Unfortunately, it takes a major health scare, like coronavirus, to encourage us to WASH OUR HANDS.  Since we were little, we have heard wash your hands.  All through elementary school, middle school, high school we were told to wash our hands.  We taught our children the same thing.   So now let’s get to the reason behind washing our hands.

Handwashing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds is a way to scrub germs off of your hands. You should wash your hands:

• Before and after eating
• After using the restroom
• Before and after cooking (especially raw meat)
• After changing a baby diaper
• After petting animals
• When visibly soiled
• Visiting elderly family either at their home or the hospital
• Any other time you think to wash your hands.
• Pretty much after any activity.

 Hand washing is the most effective form of staying healthy.  It helps prevent spreading infections such as diarrheal illnesses and respiratory illness.  There have been many studies about hand washing and found that most people do not take the time to wash hands properly.  Most give the reason “I don’t have time to spend 20 secs washing my hands”.  Especially caregivers who go from one patient to another.  This prompted the invention of hand sanitizers as they can be used in place of soap and water, during most situations.  Hand sanitizers are hanging on the walls in most public areas.  You wave your hand, and a palm full of sanitizer is released.  You then can rub hands together until it is dried.  Read the recommendations, as most say that you should still use soap and water every so many times of using sanitizer.

The coronavirus is among us and most likely a large percentage of us will get exposed.  The best practices to help stop the spread is social isolation and hand washing.  The CDC has this information about hand washing in PDF forms, PDF handouts you can print to use at home and office to help with education and remind others to wash hands.

I found a great article from the Minnesota Department of Health about what type of soap to use, plain or antibacterial, liquid or bar, and when should you use hand sanitizer.  These are a little different from what the CDC states in the above video, but both offer great information.

Thanks for taking time to read about hand washing. I challenge you to WASH THOSE HANDS FOR AT LEAST 20 SECONDS with soap in all the scenarios listed above and any other time you think of it.  Let’s help stop this virus!