The Importance of Hand Washing

Proper hand washing is essential part of basic hygiene. The majority of people do not wash their hands long enough. Then, there are a lot of people who don't wash there hands at all. A simple thing such as washing your hands can help prevent a lot of sickness. The amount of germs that live around us is in the millions. The importance of hand washing is stressed in the healthcare and restaurant industries. Could you imagine someone handing you your burger after they just came out of the bathroom, without washing their hands? Gross huh? But believe me it has happened.

Hand washing is an important tool to slow the process of the flu. One big example of not washing your hands is kids in school. When was the last time you heard of kids in elementary, middle or high schools given time to wash there hands? It amazes me that school and health officials complain about germs spreading in schools, but no one does anything about it. If we were to implement simple hand washing in school there would be a lot less germs running around. Our kids are taught to wash their hand when they are little and then they get to elementary, middle and high school and then hand washing is forgotten.

Hand washing is important at home as well. Hand washing should be observed before and after preparing meals. If you were to prepare meals with unwashed hand, you will be eating everything your hands have touched. Once again, that's pretty gross. Then there are the times that you touch your pets. Your hands need washed before and after touching pets. Most people don't think about washing there hands after touching dirty laundry. Washing your hands after touching dirty laundry can help prevent germs from spreading. Actually a lot of people get sick from there laundry.

Our computers, phones, and game systems are great places for the germ festival too. In offices a lot of people touch the same computer. If the person before you had cold, chances are you will get it next. Computers, phones, and game systems need to be sanitized on a regular basis to prevent re-infecting yourself and others. A simple alcohol swab ran over the keys of a keyboard, game controller, and phone receiver can help a lot.

If you don't have access to water and soap there is great hand sanitizing solutions by Purell, Dial, and Clorox. One way to prevent spread of germs in school is to send your child a bottle of hand sanitizer in there lunch box. I've been doing this for over six months with my daughter, and I'm sure its helping.

The CDC recommends that you rub your hands together for at least 10-15 seconds for proper hand washing. It is also a good idea to use a paper towel to turn off the faucet and on the door knob going out of the bathroom.

It's quite interesting how a simple act of washing your hands can help lessen the chance of getting sick and keep a lot of people healthier.