One way to prevent diseases is by hand washing and doing so consistently. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend washing your hands not only when your hands are visibly dirty, but also before touching your eyes, mouth and nose. A person’s eyes, nose and mouth are routes in which germs enter the body. The CDC advises washing your hands for 20 seconds to eliminate most germs.
How Germs Spread
Four types of germs can cause humans to become sick: bacteria, viruses, fungi and protozoa. The main way germs spread is through respiratory droplets when a person sneezes or coughs and the droplets land on others nearby. According to the CDC, germs can live on a surface for two hours or more. A person may touch a table with germs and then touch his nose or eyes and become infected.
When to Wash Up
The Mayo Clinic reports that people should wash their hands before preparing food and before eating. Washing hands before treating a wound or giving medicine is also very important in preventing the spread of germs. People should also wash their hands before putting in contact lenses or taking them out. People should always wash their hands after handling raw meat and poultry, taking out the garbage, using the bathroom, changing a baby’s diaper, touching or handling pets and their toys, coughing, sneezing, and treating a wound.
Hand Washing 101
The CDC describes the proper way to wash hands in five steps. Step one is to wet your hands with warm water and then apply soap. Step two is to rub hands together for 20 seconds. Step three is to rinse well under warm running water. Step four is to dry your hands with a paper towel or use an air dryer. Step five is to use the paper towel to turn off the faucet and open the restroom door.
Hand Sanitizers
The CDC recommends using alcohol-based hand sanitizers when clean water and soap are not available or when hands are not visibly dirty. The proper way to use hand sanitizers is to put a small amount of the hand sanitizer in the palm of the hand and rub the hands together while cleaning between fingers and up to the wrist until the hands are dry. The Mayo Clinic states that alcohol hand sanitizers must be at least 60 percent alcohol to be effective in killing germs.
It's a Fact
Following the CDC recommendations on hand washing can help prevent many illnesses and, in turn, save lives. The seasonal flu is highly contagious and according to the CDC, 36,000 people die of the seasonal flu every year in the United States. Hand washing can help prevent a person from developing the flu and other illnesses.
