Hand washing is the best way to prevent pathogenic diseases from entering our bodies. It is important to know how often as well as when to hand wash. What most people don't know is the importance of hand washing, even if their hands do not visibly appear to be dirty. According to CBS news, 95% of people do not wash their hand properly. Carl Borchgrevink, an associate of hospitality business at Michigan State University says that frequency and "proper hand washing technique can cut the risk of cold and flu cases and prevent the spread of food borne diseases." In general, it is important to hand wash multiple times throughout the day and not just when exposed to dirty environments.
Although there are some obvious times to hands wash, you may be surprised at other situations that require you to wash your hands. Some of the most important times to wash your hands include:
Although there are some obvious times to hands wash, you may be surprised at other situations that require you to wash your hands. Some of the most important times to wash your hands include:
- Before, during and after preparing food and eating meals: Our hands are covered in bacteria all the time. When eating, our hands are touching food and putting it into our mouths. The bacteria from our hands is transferred into our body. This poses an increased risk for pathogenic diseases and although we cannot completely eliminate bacteria, we can hand wash to reduce the risk of obtaining it. This is why it is important to not only hand wash before, but also after. When preparing meals for others, it is also important for hand washing as the bacteria from our hands may contaminate the food. The is especially prevalent because the bacteria not only may cause you to be sick, but others too.
- After using cellphones and computer key boards: Many of us are not aware of how dirty the technology we use is. Cell phones are more dirty that you think. Each square inch on cell phones have more than 25000 bacteria. Dr. Charles Gerba, a microbiology professor at the University of Arizona, says that "Nobody ever disinfects cell phone screens, so the bacteria keeps building and building." As we use cell phones frequently throughout the day, they remains warm, which is an ideal environment for bacteria to reproduce. The hands that we use everyday touch the dirty screens. By using cell phones and not hand washing regularly, the chance of infection is increased. The hands that we use when using cell phones also touch our food, face, and mouth. It is also important to hand wash after using a computer, as it is also a health hazard. In a study done by a British consumer group, researchers swabbed 22 key boards and many of them revealed hazardous bacteria such as E. Coli. It is not only important to hand wash since our hands live on key boards, but to keep the keyboard itself sanitized.
- After using the wash room: Not only do many people use public wash rooms, but the sinks and toilets are where most bacteria like to reproduce due to the dark, moist environment. Specifically in public wash rooms, door handles and sinks are the most threats as many people come in contact each day. It is important to emphasize hand washing, as indirect contact to the most common way for pathogens to be transmitted.
- Coughing and sneezing into your hand: Especially during flu season, it is important to keep our hands sanitary. Something as simple as sneezing or coughing into your hand, can contaminate many objects. Since we use our hands for everything, it is important to limit the amount of objects that may become contaminated.
- Any time you touch handles: Door handles are the number one way for bacteria to transmit from one person to another. The only way that we can prevent this is to keep our hands clean all the time. This is accomplished by frequent and thorough hand washing. Door handles are a primary transmission vectors. For example. an infected individual sneezes into their hand and touches a door knob. An uninfected individual also touches the same door handle and touches their face, mouth or eyes. The uninfected individual is at risk for obtaining the same disease, whether it is the flu, influenza or any illness.