The Importance of Hand Hygiene in Preventing Illness

India has loads of infectious diseases ready to burden large swathes of the population. You name it and we have dealt with it all- stomach related ailments, COVID-19, influenza, cold etc. You can also think of them as opportunistic infections as they seem to strike the very young or the very old in a population. In this blog, we will tell you how washing your hands in the right way matters, when to do so and also hope you teach young children about it well.

How Hand Hygiene Prevents The Spread Of Illness-

The main thing is this- using soap to wash your hands properly. Remember the 20 second rule or even the handwashing song we all came up with, to teach our kids about hand hygiene? You should stick to that always and not just when there is a pandemic. There is no need to invest in ‘antibacterial’ soaps. As for when you should wash hands, we have given you a list-

• You should wash well after you pee or poop. Same goes for when you have finished changing diapers for your little one.
• Wash well before you switch between meats and veggies or fruits. The same applies for between cooked and raw foods.
• You should also remember to keep your hands clean before, during and after food prep.
• We’d love it if you could wash your hands before dealing with any sick family member or friend.
• After you have finished any kind of commute or have driven to some place, please make it a habit to wash your hands and feet before settling down to gossip, talk, eat or whatever else you’d like to do.
• If you use a handkerchief, then make sure you fold it and keep it away from everyone.
• You can sneeze or cough into your elbows when you don’t have a tissue or handkerchief.

Steps For Proper Handwashing To Prevent Germs-

Now, we will give you an easy to follow tutorial for handwashing in the right way-

• Remove any and all rings and watches or jewellery. Then, make sure your hands are wet till the wrist. You will need running water for this first part. Close the tap.
• Take some soap and rub it all over for at least 20 seconds or even longer, if you think the dirt is a little stubborn.
• Pay attention to your nails, wrists and the back of your hands.
• Turn the tap on and then rinse really well till all soap and dirt are gone. Dry your hands well with a towel or tissue. Air drying is also perfectly okay.
• If you did not remove your rings or watch, then dry under them as you could deal with an issue later on.
• One person- one towel and wash them often too. Like once or twice a week, depending on how dirty they can get. 

This whole set of instructions should take you about a minute to finish. Now, you and your hands are safe.

Now, many of us think if we use hot water, it is better. Not necessarily. Running water is the key component here, not the temperature. With respect to the soap, try to use ones which are slightly acidic and not perfumed. Hot water itself can strip your skin of essential oils and make it too dry. Washing too often is also not a great idea. If you have to do so, then you can invest in some non-greasy hand cream that gets absorbed quickly.

How Hand Sanitizers Help In Reducing Illness Spread-

Many of us seem to think too highly of hand sanitisers- that they can be a replacement for soaps and water and proper handwashing technique. Though alcohol based hand sanitisers are pretty helpful, they can’t keep stomach bugs away. The percentage of alcohol is also crucial- above 60% is good. 70% is the best.

Conclusion

Now, we all know how to wash our hands properly and hopefully we can stay healthier that way. Flu, influenza or tummy bugs get transferred easily by touch and when you then touch the same unwashed hand to your nose, food or eyes, the pathogen gets a direct point of entry into your body. Moisturising your hands after washing them often is also important as the skin serves as the primary barrier- the first line of defence. So, let us work smartly to stay safe and healthy.