Health Information Center – CedrikaProvencher

You know that regular hand washing is just sanitary. In this day and age of illnesses that can be spread through the touching of surfaces, regular hand washing helps to keep illnesses from spreading. But there are myths as well as facts about watching your hands. You should know which is which.

Kids Can Keep Illnesses Going

You know that children, just like adults, can carry germs around. When children are regularly around other children, either at school or just in groups of friends, then illnesses can spread through the group of friends and be carried back to their respective families. This process can happen quickly or slowly. The spreading of illnesses can go on for months but hand washing can help stop it. It is essential to teach children the importance of regular hand washing or illnesses can just keep spreading.

Small Kids Spread Illnesses Even More

Small children are accustomed to holding hands more often than older children and are also more likely to touch their mouths after touching objects or surfaces. This means that young children are more inclined to spread illnesses whose progression could be halted by regular hand washing practices. Repetitive demonstrations of proper hand washing techniques and supervising small children whenever they do wash their hands helps everyone to stay healthy.

Germs Can Live On Many Surfaces

Germs do not just go from one person to the next. They can live on surfaces like doorknobs and tabletops. Hand washing needs to happen regularly regardless of the presence of other people or physical contact with those people.

You Have To Wash Your Hands The Right Way

Passing your hands under some water with a little soap is not sufficient to prevent the spread of germs. Hands must be thoroughly washed with care to scrub hands, fingers, between fingers, under fingernails, and wrists to make sure that germs are killed and washed away.

Washing Your Hands Is Not Enough To Prevent Illnesses

Washing your hands the right way is an excellent beginning to staying healthy but it is not enough. The moment you touch a surface, such as the door handle leaving a bathroom, you are risking repopulating your hands with germs. You have to wash you hands, be careful what objects and surfaces you touch, and be careful not to touch your nose, mouth, or eyes with hands that are not clean.

Hand Sanitizer Cannot Replace Hand Washing

Hand sanitizer is wonderful for killing germs on your hands when you’re on the go but it is not enough. This should primarily be used when soap and water is not available. Otherwise, it is preferable to wash your hands. Additionally, many hand sanitizers can dry out your hands.

There Is No Magic Number

There is not set number of times you should wash your hands each day. It depends on what you are doing. Just wash your hands regularly and whenever it is appropriate.

These 7 facts and myths about washing your hands are good to know. You can help to keep yourself and others healthy through proper hand washing practices. In a time when people are more afraid than ever of getting sick, the simple act of washing your hands goes a long way.

Thomas Rheinecker blogs about how to choose among online MHA degree programs.