hand washing

We still need to be washing our hands!

Reminder to wash your hands. We are getting back to somewhat normal life. Please keep the habit of washing your hands.

Several months ago when Covid 19 was just starting in the US, we were all washing our hands. We were counting to 20, or singing the ABCs, or happy birthday (hopefully in our heads). We were using hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes. We were being clean. Are you still doing these things or have you given away back to old habits.

It seems that Covid 19 is still rising in some areas. Is this because we are testing more? Is this because we are getting back to business as usual? Is this because we are not wearing mask in public? Is this because we are not washing our hands as much? Whatever the cause or combination of the causes, we are only able to control what we do. Here is my last post on hand washing and which is still relevant today.

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 or reread about hand washing. I challenge you to WASH THOSE HANDS FOR AT LEAST 20 SECONDS with soap and water. In all the scenarios listed above and any other time you think of it. Let’s stay clean! Whether Covid, flu or any other illness, clean hands are a main habit of defense.

Mask and Gloves Do it Right!

CONGRATULATIONS!!! You just infected yourself with corona.

Corona virus or Covid 19 is a novel virus, meaning that we have not seen it before. We are fighting an enemy that we cannot see, hear, or feel. We are doing things, that we never thought about in the past. We have seen companies shut down, laid off workers, no dine in options (except at your own table, in your home). Many folks are working from home. Many parents are having to become teachers, and the list goes on. Today we are going to talk about those mask and gloves that are being worn for our protection.

A couple weeks ago I posted about hand washing. It seems that everyone is on board with learning new techniques. Actually, old ones, that had become, automatic for so many. Hand washing for 20 seconds. Cleaning under our fingernails. Not turning off the water, with our clean hands. Using a towel or paper towel to turn off the water. We have done fairly well at relearning this skill.

Now, let’s go on virtual trip to the grocery store. You walk in, you are told “the carts are sanitized, please stay 6 feet from others”. You are playing by the rules and try your best. You have a mask on, you have put on your gloves. You are feeling protected, now start shopping. You look at different soups, pick up the can and look at the nutrition label, and sit it down. Then look at the next, and the one after that. Your phone rings so you answer it, your spouse reminds you to pick up some milk. You put your phone back in your purse. Head to the milk isle, and pick out a gallon of milk. Your eye itches and you reach up and rub it. CONGRATULATIONS!!! You just infected yourself with corona.

You thought you were being careful. You are only as clean as those gloves. You have picked up and sat down many items. Not one time did you sanitize your hands (probably because you had on gloves). I would like to believe that this scenario would not happen, but it does every day. Worse, people are not trained on the proper way to remove dirty mask and gloves. Here is a link, to my Facebook page where I have a video about the proper use of mask and gloves.

https://www.facebook.com/102889964651305/videos/158572015484246

As you can see there is a safe way to put on your mask and gloves and to remove them. Following this technique will decrease your chances of infecting yourself with covid 19, or any other illness. Why is it so important to put on, and take off your gloves and mask correctly?

“More than one-third of healthcare workers were contaminated with multi-drug resistant organisms (MDRO) after caring for patients colonized or infected with the bacteria, according to a study published today in Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, the journal of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America. The study found that 39 percent of workers made errors in removing personal protective equipment (PPE), including gowns and gloves, increasing the incidence of contamination.” Per study reported in ScienceDaily. “(https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/03/190320110630.htm) March 20,2019.

If this happens within healthcare, where they have been trained properly, what is happening with those not trained? Here is a link to video from the CDC on mask and glove training.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html

As in my scenario above with picking up many different items, with the same gloves. This is another example of what was found in healthcare. Again with staff that have been trained.

“The major break in compliance with glove use was failure to change gloves between procedures on the same patient.” Per review article https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26447080, May 15, 2015

The use of facial masks, has long been a belief, that only healthcare workers, working with someone ill should wear them. This is false. Not only do these mask help keep the ill person from spreading germs, they also help protect the healthy person from getting the germs. If both are wearing mask, that will decrease the spread of disease. I have not found any great studies to show figures and if you have some please share.

We are in the middle of a pandemic. We are all worried about becoming ill. We can help stop the spread by a few simple things.

#1 hand washing, at least 20 seconds with soap.

#2 When out in public or helping others wear a mask and gloves. Yes, the home-made ones are better than nothing.

hand disinfection, disinfection, mouth guard

#3 Social isolation as much as possible.

Thanks for stopping by, and reading my post. I challenge you to wear your mask, wash your hands and stay 6 feet from others. Do you have any great ideas, tips or tricks? If so, please share in the comments below. If you like my blog please share it with others.

3 things to help you stay healthy both physically and mentally during the corona virus.

Keeping healthy both physically and mentally.

In the last few months, our lives have done a 180. We have gone from moving about as we wish, to staying at home mandates. What was just an issue in China, is now here on our land. This is undoubtedly one of the hardest times we have seen. What a response we have seen, with others helping others.

Over the next several weeks, we will continue to need to stay home as much as possible. We will have to only go to the grocery store, gas station, pharmacy and doctor offices. During this time our normal social interactions will be greatly decreased.

Humans need social interactions, we depend on them to learn, love, and share. We love our families. However, being with only them, can become very irritating over time. Not being able to get out and do things can weigh on our mental health. Even the strongest mentally healthy folks can have anxiety and depression symptoms in these times.

What can you do to help yourself during these times?

First, stay healthy. Wash your hands with soap and water for at least twenty seconds. Read my hand washing blog here. Keep your family healthy by not getting out in public and possibly being exposed to the Corona virus. Simple things, like disinfecting your hard surfaces, cooking at home, keeping up on housework can all help you to stay healthy.

Second, learn, read, work on a hobby, teach others by writing or making a video. Find a reason to get up and do something every day. If we allow ourselves to just lay around, and not have a reason to get up, we can start feeling depressed. We can start having issues with anxiety. We have to be proactive and keep doing our daily task. Even though many are home working or laid off right now. This is the time for ourselves. Remember all those things you have said “I will do that when I have time”? This is the time!

Third, DO NOT allow all of this to take over your world. The corona virus is scary. It is happening. It is very contagious. We need to take it seriously. However, do what you can to keep calm during this time. If you need help, ask for it. There are others who can help you. If you are elderly, or you are immunodeficient allow others to help. This virus is not discriminatory, it will take any host that it can find.

I challenge you to check in on others (via phone) if you are able to help them. If you deliver needed items, drop them off at the door. If you need something, please reach out to your local community center, family, school district, or church family to let them know what you need. Please stay safe at home as much as possible. If you do get sick, contact your primary care provider by phone first, and follow their recommendations. While there are more testing sites available, talk with your primary care office first.

Hand washing and Coronavirus!

“Did not wash hands” Coronavirus is spreading, we can help by washing our hands. Read to find out more.

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.

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!