We all know how to wash our hands at this point, and we all have techniques that work for us to get the most out of handwashing. For example, we have tons of songs we can sing along with to encourage ourselves to wash for the appropriate, most effective amount of time. The CDC recommends 20 seconds so many people revert to singing “Happy Birthday” twice through. Yet, all over the country and even the world, people are inventing new handwashing songs that combine old favorites like “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” with new lines like “Wash, wash, wash your hands while you sing this song” and “If you’re dirty and you know it, wash your hands” from Just in Case Arizona’s Hand Washing Songs.
We all know how to wash our hands in theory, but some things slip through the cracks that we forget are incredibly important things when it comes to handwashing.
Let’s Review.
All the things we touch have bacteria and germs on them that could have viruses. However, if you touch something, that is okay. It becomes a problem when you touch your face, your nose and your mouth after touching something else. It also becomes a problem when you touch food that you are going to eat and put in your mouth. You may forget that you touched a bunch of surfaces and then go to eat a sandwich and contaminate your entire lunch. So many people forget to wash their hands before eating because we may not think as much about how dirty our desk is when compared to the gas pump.
What if You Do Not Have Access to Soap and Water?
You can use hand sanitizer. MSNW installs touchless systems in commercial buildings like banks and hospitals. However, bringing your personal hand sanitizer is a great option when you cannot be sure you will have access to a building with an installed system. Hand sanitizer is not nearly as effective as washing your hands, but it can be a viable option when washing your hands is unreasonable at the moment.
Making it a Habit.
Simplify your life by not making handwashing a big deal. Wash before and after eating. Wash after touching surfaces that get touched all the time like doorknobs, gas pumps and light switches. Wash your hands when preparing food. Once you start to implement handwashing into your daily life for specific reasons, the sooner it will become part of your regular routine and the safer you will be. This is effective with children as well. When teaching children from a young age to wash their hands before eating and after touching high-touch surfaces, the higher the likelihood they will bring that habit with them into adulthood, just as brushing and flossing their teeth twice a day also becomes a healthy habit.
Open the Door with a Paper Towel
Not everyone who uses the bathroom washes their hands afterward. So, once you wash your hands be careful not to immediately contaminate them by using the bathroom doorknob to make your exit. If you are washing from home, make sure to change out your hand-drying towels frequently, once a week and try not to share a hand towel at all if someone in your home is sick.
Put up Reminder Signs in Your Facility or Home Bathroom
Although this may seem silly, it works. People forget all the time because they may just not think about it so having a reminder can be the difference between someone forgetting and remembering to wash their hands. You cannot force anybody to wash their hands, but encouragement is not a bad idea.
Handwashing is Majorly Effective
According to the CDC handwashing education reduces the number of people who get sick with diarrhea by 23-40%, reduces respiratory illnesses, such as colds, by 16-21% and reduces the number of kids who are absent from school for gastrointestinal illnesses by 29-57%. Want to know the global rates of handwashing after using the toilet? Only 19% are estimated to be washing their hands after going to the bathroom.
Keep illnesses at bay by using preventative methods like washing your hands. It is not something everyone does properly or at all, but it starts with continual education and continues with ingrained habits and practices over time.