COVID-19 is increasing with its full speed. A number of infectious diseases can be spread from one person to another by contaminated hands. These diseases include gastrointestinal infections, such as Salmonella, and respiratory infections, such as influenza. Washing your hands properly can help prevent the spread of the germs (like bacteria and viruses) that cause these diseases.
Some forms of gastrointestinal and respiratory infections can cause serious complications, especially for young children, the elderly, or those with a weakened immune system.
Even if your hands appear to be clean, they may carry germs. Hands pick up micro-organisms (germs) in a number of ways.
When people who are sick sneeze or cough, the germs that are making them sick are expelled into the air in tiny droplets. If these droplets get onto your hands, and then you touch your mouth, eyes or nose without washing away the germs, you carry the infection. You can also get sick if you don't wash your hands before and after preparing food, after handling raw meat, and after using the toilet.
Washing your hands not only prevents you from getting sick, but it also reduces the risk of infecting others. If you don't wash your hands properly before coming into contact with others, you can infect them with the germs on your hands. Other people can also get sick from the germs unwashed hands leave on shared objects like doorknobs, keyboards, and other equipment in the home or workplace.
* Eliminating germs & reducing illness Keeping hands clean is one of the most important steps we can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others. Many diseases are spread by not washing hands with soap and clean, running water — from the common cold to more serious infections, such as meningitis, bronchiolitis, the flu, hepatitis A, and most types of infectious diarrhoea. In fact, washing hands with soap can reduce the risk of diarrhoea by up to 45%!
* Less time off work & school Thousands of school and work days are missed every year due to avoidable illness, such as flu or pneumonia, that could be prevented through hand washing. Not only does this put financial strain on families but also impacts the educational development of kids.
* Reduced Medical Bills When kids come into contact with germs, they can unknowingly become sick simply by touching their eyes, nose, or mouth. Once they’re infected it’s just a matter of time before the whole family comes down with the same illness, leading to many trips to the doctor and scary medical bills.
Here are further steps you can take to protect yourself and your family.
- Wash your hands often, especially after coughing, sneezing or using tissues, before and after eating, before preparing food, after handling raw meat, after petting an animal, and after using the bathroom.
- When you cough or sneeze, use a tissue or raise your arm up to your face and aim for your sleeve. Do not sneeze into your hand. Throw away tissues as soon as you use them
- Keep the surface areas in your home and office free of germs by cleaning them. Doorknobs, light switches, telephones, and keyboards are especially important to keep clean.
- If you have children, teach them good hygiene and how to wash their hands properly. Young children should be supervised while washing their hands.
- If you use bar soap, keep it in a self-draining holder that can be cleaned thoroughly before a new bar is added.
- Don't use a single damp cloth to wash a group of children's hands.
- Don't use a standing basin of water to rinse your hands.
- Don't use a common hand towel.
- Don't use sponges or non-disposable cleaning cloths unless you change them daily and launder them using detergent. Germs thrive on moist surfaces