Did you know that just 1cm of your hand holds 1500 bacteria? Yet, only 38.7% of households around the world practice handwashing with soap. Washing your hands properly is one of the best things you can do to help curb the spread of illness-causing germs.
Handwashing: A Top Weapon Against Disease
In fact, hand hygiene may be one of the top ways that we can combat the spread of deadly pandemics such as the coronavirus. One study from MIT shows that increasing handwashing rates at airports around the world could slow a potential pandemic by 24% – 69%.
What is Hand Hygiene?
When performed correctly, hand hygiene can drastically reduce the number of microorganisms (i.e. germs and bacteria) on your hands. Hand hygiene can be divided into two main principles:
- Washing your hands after certain activities or interactions
- Knowing how to clean your hands in an effective manner (either with soap and water or with a hand sanitizer).
When Should You Wash Your Hands?
- Before, during and after preparing food
- Before eating
- Before and after interacting with a sick person
- Before and after treating a cut/wound
- After using the bathroom, changing nappies or cleaning up after a child in the bathroom
- After blowing your nose, coughing, sneezing
- After touching an animal
- After touching trash
- If your hands are visibly dirty/greasy
Discover More About the Importance of Handwashing
If you are keen to find out more about handwashing, then you check out this infographic which comes from The Cleaning Services Group. This useful guide explores the connection between handwashing and health and also looks at handwashing in the healthcare sector. It includes a step-by-step guide on how to wash your hands and provides extra tips on water temperature and the best kind of soap to use.
