Hand Washing: Most Effective Way to Prevent Germs
Are you aware that as much as 80% of illness-causing germs are passed on through the hands? There are innumerable ways this spread happens: in handshakes, touching the face with dirty hands, touching the door handle of public places, etc. The good news, however, is that you only need to adhere to simple hygiene rules and you're golden. It's all as simple as making sure your hands are always clean.
Make sure you know how to protect against germs at school. You have two options on the matter of having your hands clean at all times. First, regular washing of hands with water and soap. The second option is to use a hand sanitizer which is a much-trusted way to destroy germs.
When washing the hands with water and soap, it's important that the procedure is carried out properly. Begin by applying some soap lather, then rub the hands together for 15 seconds, minimum. Don't forget to rub in between the fingers, the back f your hands, and to clean through the fingernails. Next, use warm, running water to thoroughly clean the hands. Dry your hands with a clean towel, or better yet, a paper towel.
On which occasions will you need to wash your hands? You might be surprised to know that most people don't know when they are supposed to observe this practice. It's possibly shocking to learn that most people have no idea how many occasions require them to wash their hands. In broad terms, you should clean the hands after touching anything that could be a source of germs, or before you touch anything that shouldn't be exposed to germs. For example, wash your hands after these specific situations: visiting the washroom, coughing or sneezing, blowing the nose, typing on a keyboard, changing diapers, etc. You'd need to clean the hands before: having a meal, cooking, touching someone's face, or yours, etc.
The number of occasions on which we are called to clean our hands is so big that it may not be practical. While you're away from home, it is not easy to access soap and water; with a hand sanitizer, however, you have a handy solution to carry with you everywhere you go. Small sizes in the form of mini sprays are available, and you can fit these snugly in your pocket or handbag, while large spray cans are also available for family use at home.
You may have recently come across hand sanitizers installed as a measure for germ prevention in hospitals. That demonstrates just how much they're going to be a part of our day to day lives. You will, however, need to choose between alcohol-based hand sanitizers and those that are alcohol-free. Both sanitizers are effectual at germ prevention, but the alcohol-free option is considered safer for family, and is generally gentler on the hands, and keeps them moist, as opposed to the alcohol-based version.
