Clean Your Hands Day
On the 5th May the World Health Organisation is
hosting Clean Your Hands Day. Hand washing is crucial to physical health and wellbeing.
Washing your hands is vital to prevent infections and illnesses but do you know
how exactly how you should wash your hands?
Having spent the weekend surrounded by teenagers I was
horrified by how poor their hand washing skills actually are. For a start most
of them did not realise that hand sanitizers are not effective when your hands
are actually dirty. They are actually there to be used after you have washed
your hands!
Here’s how to wash your hands effectively – I’ve also
included a print out to hang up in your own bathrooms to help teach your
children how to as well.
·
Wet your hands with running water —
either warm or cold.
·
Apply liquid, bar or powder soap.
·
Lather well.
·
Rub your hands vigorously for at
least 20 seconds. Remember to scrub all surfaces, including the backs of your
hands, wrists, between your fingers and under your fingernails.
·
Rinse well.
·
Dry your hands with a clean or
disposable towel or air dryer.
·
If possible, use a towel or your
elbow to turn off the faucet.
Tips:
Handwashing should take about 20 seconds. Pretty much the
time it takes to sing Happy Birthday twice. From start to finish it should take
a minute to wash your hands!
Dry your hands! It does actually help reduce bacteria
levels further and while as yet there is no evidence whether towel or cloths
are best do make sure the towels are hung up to dry after each hand wash. You don’t
want to leave your towels damp to breed bacteria.
Hand Sanitizers. A
good one – with a high alcohol percent are the best to use. However do bear in
mind that while great for getting rid of bacteria on contact they will not kill
bacterial spores. Hand washing with soap is always best!
A thank you to
Carex for sending me some gorgeous soaps
- (have you tried the kid soaps? We love strawberry laces) in return for
telling you all about Clean Your Hands Day.
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