Wash Your Hands
The Center For Disease Control has gone so far as to state; “it is well-documented that the most important measure for preventing the spread of pathogens(germs) is effective hand-washing.” And the Mayo Clinic advises when teaching young children to wash their hands as long as it takes them to sing “Row Row Row Your Boat” or the “ABC Song” the mean being about twenty seconds in length. But the most arresting information on the subject is this -
Infectious diseases that are commonly spread through hand-to-hand contact include the common cold, flu and several gastrointestinal disorders, such as infectious diarrhea. While most people will get over a cold, the flu can be much more serious. Some people with the flu, particularly older adults and people with chronic medical problems, can develop pneumonia. The combination of the flu and pneumonia, in fact, is the eighth-leading cause of death among Americans.” ~The Mayo Clinic
Alcohol-based hand sanitizers which don’t require water are an excellent alternative to hand washing, particularly when soap and water aren’t available and seem to be a big hit in the parent set, as you may notice when a mom (or dad) cracks open a diaper bag in the park or playground. They’re actually more effective than soap and water in killing bacteria and viruses that cause disease but have been found to be less effective in removing organic material they simply disinfect them.
Hand washing is especially important for toddlers and children who attend child care. Children younger than 3 years in child care are at greater risk of respiratory and gastrointestinal diseases, which can easily spread to family members and others in the community, especially the elderly.
When Should You Wash Your Hands:
- After using the toilet
- After changing a diaper wash the diaper-wearer’s hands, too
- After touching animals or animal waste
- Before and after preparing food, especially before and immediately after handling raw meat, poultry or fish
- Before eating
- After blowing your nose
- After coughing or sneezing into your hands
- Before and after treating wounds or cuts
- Before and after touching a sick or injured person
- After handling garbage
- Before inserting or removing contact lenses
- When using public restrooms, such as those in airports, train stations, bus stations and restaurant
It’s startling to find that news sources have shown in surveys of public bathrooms only 15% of us, on average, wash our hands adequately. This may seem like the most basic thing but when teaching your child or even reminding them of the importance of properly washing your hands you may want to keep in mind a few facts coming from the CDC;
Inadequate hand hygiene also contributes to food-related illnesses, such as salmonella and E. coli infection. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as many as 76 million Americans get a food-borne illness each year. Of these, about 5,000 die as a result of their illness. Others experience the annoying signs and symptoms of nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.”
Back in the day, ancient Greece that is - hand washing was associated with affluence and nobility as well as prayer and sacred spaces. Offering a house guest a basin of water and towel was a gesture of honor and civility. Not to say our relationship with clean slappers has been a tiddy one - for centuries there was no common belief that clean hands were important or proper. In fact, the common belief was disease came from decaying matter and foul smells.
Understanding it is one of the low-tech but effective ways to prevent getting and passing on the common cold and infections from Clostridium difficile to MRSA, SARS and bird flu — you may be a bit motivated the next time you’re in the kitchen to sing you ABC’s a bit slower while you wash your hands with your kids.
Sited Links:
Center For Disease Control | Clean Hands
Wikipedia | Hand Washing
Mayo Clinic | Hand Washing; An Easy Way To Prevent Infection
Related Links:
New York Times | Best Defense Against Drug-Resistant Bacteria: Wash Your Hands
