The Importance of Good Hand Hygiene: An Overview Students like us are always on the go between lectures, library sessions, and after-hours get-togethers with our pals. Illness and contamination are common in such close quarters. To keep ourselves and those around us healthy, it is crucial that we maintain proper hand hygiene and avoid the spread of germs.
What Is “hand hygiene?”
Hygiene of the hands is the practice of keeping one’s hands clean and free of debris like dirt and germs. For this purpose, you can use either soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. The CDC advises using soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, to prevent the spread of germs.
Is it Necessary to Wash Your Hands?
Clean hands are one of the best defences against the spread of illness. Contact with contaminated surfaces, such as doorknobs, countertops, and shared equipment, is a major vector for the transmission of many infectious diseases. By keeping our hands clean, we can limit the spread of disease and lessen the impact of these germs. Good hand hygiene is important because it helps stop the spread of disease, but it also has other advantages. For instance, it can hasten the recovery from cuts and wounds, lessen the possibility of skin infections, and enhance general health and well-being.
Maintaining Proper Hand Hygiene During the Current COVID-19 Pandemic
The pandemic of COVID-19 has shown how vital it is to practice good hand hygiene to stop the spread of the disease. Droplets exhaled through the nose and throat are the most common vector for COVID-19, but the virus can also be transmitted through direct skin-to-skin contact. Maintaining proper and consistent hand hygiene practices is crucial in stopping the spread of diseases like COVID-19. Avoiding touching our faces, covering our mouths and noses when coughing or sneezing, and cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces are all part of keeping ourselves and others healthy and germ-free.
The Facts About Washing Your Hands
Sadly, not everyone adheres to and is effective in their hand-washing efforts. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports that after using the restroom, only 31% of men and 65% of women wash their hands. A recent study found that only 40% of people wash their hands for the recommended 20 seconds or more. In light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, these numbers are cause for concern. Hand hygiene is a simple yet effective way to improve public health and prevent the spread of disease.
Suggestions for Proper Hand Washing
Always wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water before eating, after using the restroom, and anytime you have been sick enough to sneeze, cough, or blow your nose. Use hand sanitizer in the absence of soap and water: To avoid spreading germs, keep some hand sanitizer on hand and use it frequently, especially after touching something unclean. Touching your face, especially around your mouth, nose, and eyes, can spread germs from your hands to the rest of your body. When you cough or sneeze, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your elbow, and discard the tissue after use. Cleaning and disinfecting surfaces such as door handles, countertops, and shared appliances should be done on a regular basis.
Ultimately, take precautions to safeguard yourself and those around you.
