Hand Washing Prevents the Spread of Disease

Washing your hands is the number one activity that every person in the world can do to prevent the spread of disease. There are public service announcements on television about hand washing. Grocery store employees are told to wash before returning to work. Restaurant personnel are taught to do this. Parents teach their children from the time they are toddlers to wash their hands before eating and after using the bathroom. Accredited health care institutions document their yearly in-services on proper hand washing to maintain their accreditation.

If you didn't already know that washing your hands is the number one preventive measure that everyone can do to prevent the spread of disease you know it now. Some germs, bacteria or microorganisms can make us sick, especially if our immune system is in a weakened condition. Some of the pathogens we carry on our skin are harmless to us. These are called our natural flora. How do we know the difference between the good and the bad "bugs"? That's the problem, we don't. We can't see them, hear them or feel them. But they're everywhere. You need a microscope to see them.

So many "bugs" are on our hands because we use our hands to touch so many surfaces. Those surfaces include our own skin and hair which is exposed to all the airborne elements around us. We should wash our hands after every possible exposure to a contaminated surface. If we did that, we'd never get anything else done plus the constant contact with soap and water would be hard on our skin. Red, chapped and cracked skin is an invitation to infection. So what should we do? Use common sense. When your hands have been in contact with something that you know could be contaminated, take the time to wash your hands.

Health care professionals who have direct patient contact often wash their hands as many as eighty times during one shift. The skin on their hands takes tremendous abuse. Some health care facilities provide an emollient lotion that the health care provider can use to replenish the natural oils that are being depleted by the constant washing.

There is a preferred length of time and method for proper hand washing. The time is fifteen seconds. That's a long time. Test it out for yourself. Watch the second hand on a clock while doing the motion of washing your hands. It seems to take forever.

The proper method is to first wet your hands under a running spigot with comfortably warm water, then apply the soap and wash the tops, the palms and between your fingers. Rinse well to remove all soap and dry thoroughly with a towel, being sure to dry between your fingers. It's a good idea at this point to use a hand cream or lotion, especially if you have sensitive skin.

You may have noticed that most public restrooms no longer have bar soap. There's a reason for that. A bar of soap that's not completely dry is a perfect medium for "bugs" to grow. "Bugs" multiply the fastest when the conditions are warm, dark and moist. When was the last time you saw a bar of soap that wasn't gooey on the bottom or resting in a watery, slimey solution? Using a bar of soap like that runs the risk of picking up more bacteria than you'll be getting rid of.

Liquid soap is preferable. Most health care institutions use a medicated soap or antimicrobial as it's called. While that is good practice, especially for specific areas of the facility where the patients are in a higher risk group, generally it is not necessary. At home you can use a general all purpose liquid hand wash. It's even a good idea to use liquid for bathing too.

We've all been told when to absolutely wash our hands and those times do not have to be stated again. But remember not everyone does what he or she should. Years ago someone got the bright idea to examine under the microscope what was in the bottom of the bowl of mints that are offered in restaurants as an after dinner treat. Urine salts and fecal material was found. Now where do you think that came from? Could it be that some people didn't wash their hands after using the restroom? Were those people just too lazy to wash their hands or were they planning a diabolical plot to contaminate those of us who grabbed a mint? This report became widespread. Today most restaurants offer wrapped candies. Grab a handful. They're safe. But if you encounter an open container of any food that isn't wrapped and it's free to the public, don't be tempted.

Some people go overboard with their fear of germs. You may have seen a popular television show where the host doesn't shake hands with the guests. Instead he bumps fists with them. He may be carrying it to extremes, however, shaking hands with someone is more than a greeting. The two shaking hands are exchanging their germs. And you don't know where that person's hands have been. Maybe the countries that eschew shaking hands are on to something. They often greet someone with mutual cheek kissing. Believe it or not, there is less chance of cross contamination if you kiss someone!