Throughout the day, you touch various objects, then invariably touch your face--eyes, ears, nose or mouth. The germs that are transferred can lead to infection, such as conjunctivitis, also known as "pink eye"; sickness, such as influenza; and, in some cases, disease, such as hepatitis B. Through the simple act of handwashing, you can reduce the accumulation and transmission of germs and stay more healthy. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) describe handwashing as "the best way to prevent infection and illness." Even at home, handwashing is an easy and lifelong hygiene habit to share with your family.
Step 1: Use Running Water
Use warm water, if possible, to loosen body oils that can trap dirt and germs. While hot water may seem a great choice--and an excuse to skip soap and lathering--boiling-temperature water would be necessary to kill most bacteria, which would be painful. Above all, use running water, to ensure that the germs are washed away.
Step 2: Apply Soap
While antibacterial soaps are now widely available, they are no more effective for killing germs and may dry out the skin. Bar soap should be stored in a container that drains easily. Liquid soap pumps offer less risk of contamination. However, once emptied, they should be washed before being refilled. Of greater importance than soap choice is the act of scrubbing, whereby dirt and germs are loosened from the surface of the skin. However, you may need to find an affordable yet attractive soap product to encourage children to wash their hands regularly.
Step 3: Create Lather
Rub your hands together, over and under, up to the wrists, and between fingers and around fingernails. Rub for 15 to 20 seconds; while some children enjoy counting, others may prefer singing. Brief songs such as "Happy Birthday" or "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" are about the right length and can be repeated throughout the day, until you remember how long it takes to get the job done.
Step 4: Rinse Well and Dry
Rinse well and leave the water running. Dry your hands on a clean paper towel, place it over your hand to turn the faucet off, then dispose of the towel. While the air hand dryers now available in many institutions are more environmentally friendly, disposable paper towels are more widely accessible and help prevent the transmission of germs. At home, provide a hand towel for each child/member of the family. Remember to wash towels frequently, and consider adding a small amount of chlorine bleach to the wash to further kill any germs.
About Hand Sanitizers
A trip to the mall, playroom, hospital or subway may not provide access to a sink and running water. Consider using an alcohol-based disinfectant to reduce the germs on your hands. First, use any available soap and water, or a baby wipe, to remove any obvious dirt or grease. Next, dry your hands carefully, as water will dilute and decrease the effectiveness of the product. Carefully apply a dime-size amount of product and rub your hands together vigorously, working between fingers and around nails, as when you are washing hands. Rub until the hands feel dry; it may take about 15 to 20 seconds, enough time to repeat your hand-washing song.
