Hand Hygiene: The Basics & Importance
They say that cleanliness is next to Godliness and its believed that most of the germs enter our body via our mouth through our hands. So hand hygiene is imperative for all, kids as well as adults. If you don’t want to fall ill repeatedly or spread the germs, you need to sanitize your hands repeatedly.
Hand hygiene is all about practicing the right way to clean your hands. Mere washing your hands a multiple times may not help but it is the process that matters.
Steps for proper hand washing
· Use clean water to wet your hands and apply soap or hand wash.
· Rub the soap to create a lather and clean both the front and back of your palm and also your fingers for 10-15 secs
· Rinse your hands well so that no soap residue is left
· Pat dry with a clean towel or tissue
· Use an alcohol free hand sanitizer or an antibacterial hand sanitizer if you are unable to wash your hands at specific occasions.
Why use an alcohol-free hand sanitizer?
Hand sanitizers help maintain hand hygiene as they keep harmful germs at bay. Opting for an alcohol-free hand sanitizer or an antibacterial hand sanitizer is beneficial as it contains natural products that are completely safe to be used even by small children. On the other hand, alcohol based hand sanitizer may be effective in killing the germs but its use can result in cracked or dry skin as it may wash away the essential oils in your skin. Also it may not be safe for kids to use it as it may harm their soft and tender skin.
An alcohol-free hand sanitizer keeps harmful germs at bay and reduces the risk of catching an infection especially when you are on the move and are unable to wash your hands with soap at regular intervals.
When is hand hygiene a must?
· Before you start cooking
· After visiting the washroom
· After touching or playing with a pet
· After being in contact with surfaces like door knobs, computer keys, phone, doors, railings, ATM machines, any switches or buttons, playing outdoors and even shaking hands. Practically after doing anything
It is absolutely necessary for adults to follow the important steps to hand hygiene in order to teach children to do the same. Children are great imitators and they would follow something that you do and consider important. Talk to them about the importance and of hand hygiene so they can understand and take care of themselves when you are not around especially at school. Keep harmful germs at bay by cleaning your hands properly with soap and water or by using an
alcohol free hand sanitizer
or an antibacterial hand sanitizer. It is always better to be safe than fall ill and repent later.