Prevent Food Poisoning with One Simple Step

Can food poisoning be prevented by the simple act of washing your hands? According to the government site Foodsafety.gov, this is the one thing people can do to prevent food poisoning.

Some may think washing hands is too simple to be a solution and food poisoning occurs when food is spoiled or somehow contaminated. Information contained in several government reports over the years point to the same fact: Cleanliness can prevent food poisoning.

According to details on the Foodsafety.gov site, there is a correct way to wash your hands. It doesn't matter if water is warm or cold. Soap is needed. Hands should be rubbed together to create lather. It is important to include the nails and between the fingers. Washing hands should take no less than 20 seconds. Some suggest humming the Happy Birthday song 2 times will equal 20 seconds if you find counting uninteresting. Be sure to keep your hands under running water while washing. Be sure to use a clean towel if you are not air drying your hands.

For those thinking washing hands often is too simple and won't help much, consider what a person touches in the course of a few minutes. If you touched a door knob, and who knows what is on a door knob, your keys, cell phone, face and your dog. The list could go on for an hour.

Washing hands often is also the key according to Foodsafety.gov. Many would list washing their hands after using the restroom or handling trash as important.

Also listed on the site are several more, including: Before eating food; Before during and after preparing food; After changing a diaper; After helping a child clean up after using the restroom; After caring for a sick person and before caring for a sick person; After touching an animal or animal waste; Before and after touching or treating a wound or cut; After coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose.

No doubt most could add a few thoughts of their own about the importance of washing hands. Obviously there are many times when washing hands is important, and this should be done several times throughout the day.

Preventing food poisoning in the future may be easier if adults help children learn the importance of washing their hands. As children move to adulthood, they will have this important habit with them. For more details about proper hand washing visit the Center for Disease Control site.

Sources:

FoodSafety.gov

CDC.gov