The habit of washing your hands is a simple but effective way to limit your own exposure to germs; it also decreases the possibility that you will pass along germs to others. According to the Massachusetts Office of Health and Human Services, 76 million Americans each year suffer diarrhea and upset stomach because of food-borne illnesses. Of these, 325,000 must be hospitalized and 5,000 die unnecessarily. Proper hand washing can stem the passing of such potentially deadly bacteria.
Protect Against Illness
Washing your hands helps protect you from common illnesses like colds and flu. Throughout the day, you pick up germs on your hands from surfaces, objects and other people in the home, the workplace and anywhere you go throughout the day. Without being aware of it, you can easily transfer germs from your hands to your food or your eyes, nose or mouth. More serious illnesses that can be passed from the hands include meningitis and hepatitis A, according to the St. Lawrence University Health Center.
Wash Hands Before
By washing your hands frequently, you are less likely to infect yourself and others with germs you may have picked up. The Mayo Clinic recommends washing hands before many activities, including eating or preparing food, treating a wound or administering medicine to--or even touching--a sick person and handling contact lenses. Washing hands thoroughly before preparing or serving food is essential for those in the food preparation and restaurant industry.
Wash Hands After
Washing your hands after performing certain activities is equally important in preventing the spread of disease. Wash your hands after the following activities: changing a diaper or handling garbage, handling an animal or its waste, preparing food such as raw meat, blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing, or touching a wound or a sick person. When using a public restroom, use a paper towel to turn off the faucet and open the door to avoid contamination after you have washed your hands.
Children and Hand Washing
Hand washing is particularly important for children in group daycare settings, because they are more susceptible to respiratory and gastrointestinal infections and may pass them along to their families, states the Mayo Clinic. Check that your child's care provider mandates frequent hand washing on the part of both children and care givers, and that they observe hygienic diaper-changing practices.
Effective Hand Washing
Even though your hands may not look visibly dirty, thoroughly washing them will remove viruses and bacteria that you cannot see. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend using soap and warm water to make a lather, then rubbing for 20 seconds (the length of time it takes to sing "Happy Birthday" twice). Rinse under running water, then dry hands with a paper towel or air dryer. If no soap or water is available, you can substitute an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
