Being amidst the Coronavirus pandemic, hand washing is the best way to protect yourself and your family from getting sick. It is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of various types of infection and illnesses in all settings starting from your home to your workplace. 
The basic way to stop germs from spreading from one person to another is to maintain clean hands. It’s widely accepted that there is a correct technique of washing hands and different studies show that good hand hygiene practices can reduce diseases to a great extent.

  • Inappropriate hand washing

    • It’s not always possible to protect the skin against various contaminants. Therefore, cleaning your hands is an important part of developing a proactive stance against diseases.
    • Maintaining appropriate hand hygiene practises is a daily challenge. Many studies show that only 70% of people wash their hands and only 30% of people use soap when washing their hands. People don’t wash their hands adequately enough. 
    • The study further says that when a person washes his/her hands for around 10 seconds, it removes around 90% of germs. Bacteria grow and double in number in less than 20 minutes so washing hands with soap is an absolute necessity. 

When to wash hands?

Germs are everywhere. Help stop the spread of germs by washing your hands often, especially during key times like:
  • Before and after preparing food
  • Before eating food
  • Before and after treating a cut or wound
  • Before and after caring for someone who’s sick
  • After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet 
  • After using the toilet; after touching an animal, animal feed, or animal waste
  • After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
  • After touching garbage

The correct way to wash your hands

Five easy steps to wash your hands the right way every time. Follow it to stay away from germs.
  • Wet your hands with water (warm or cold) and apply soap.
  • Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Don’t avoid the backs of your hands, space between your fingers, and under your nails.
  • Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds.
  • Rinse your hands well with clean water.
  • Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.

What to do in the absence of soap and water?

  • If soap and water are unavailable, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. These quickly reduce the number of germs on hands in some situations but are ineffective when hands are visibly dirty or greasy.
  • Put a small amount of it on your palm and rub your hands together. Rub it over all surfaces of your hands and fingers till your hands become dry.
  • Be cautious when using hand sanitizers around children. Swallowing it accidentally can cause alcohol poisoning if a person swallows more than a couple of mouthfuls.
Hand washing requires a minute of effort. You’re just a step away from a healthy life!