Hand Washing To Prevent Illness
Even though hand washing has been shown to be an easy and effective method of preventing the spread of illnesses, recent research shows many of us aren't as conscientious about it as we should be.
As The Early Show medical correspondent Dr. Emily Senay explains, some germs can spread easily from person to person. Viruses that cause colds and flu and bacteria that cause stomach woes can be easily transmitted by hand-to-hand and hand-to-surface contact. Keeping hands clean and following some basic hygiene practices can help keep you and those you come in contact with from getting sick. Infection can also result from touching noses, eyes or mouths with contaminated hands.
Senay says you should wash hands before preparing or eating food, after going to the bathroom, after changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has gone to the bathroom, before and after tending to someone who is sick, after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing, after handling an animal or animal waste, after handling garbage, and before and after treating a cut or wound.
But a recent study from the American Society for Microbiology and the Soap and Detergent Association found that some people aren't as diligent as they should be when it comes to washing their hands when they should, such as after going to the bathroom.People were surveyed over the phone about their hand washing habits, and then observers went into public restrooms to monitor hand washing behavior. It turned out that, while 91 percent of adults claimed they washed their hands after using a public restroom, only 82 percent actually did. The study also found that 90 percent of women washed their hands, but only 75 percent of the men washed their hands. The reason for the difference remains unexplained.
And how you wash your hands is just as important as when you wash your hands, Senay points out. A quick rinse doesn't get the job done. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that, when washing your hands with soap and water, you wet your hands with clean running water and apply soap. Use warm water if possible. Rub your hands together to make a lather, and scrub all surfaces. Continue rubbing your hands for 20 seconds, the time it takes to sing "Happy Birthday" twice through. Rinse your hands well under running water, and dry your hands using a paper towel or air dryer.
Antibacterial soap isn't necessary, Senay adds. Regular soap is fine.
If you don't have access to soap and water, Senay notes, alcohol-based hand sanitizers work well to quickly reduce the number of germs on skin. When using an alcohol-based sanitizer, apply the product to the palm of one hand and rub your hands together, covering all surfaces of your hands and fingers, until your hands are dry. The amount needed to reduce the number of bacteria on your hands varies with each product.