Handwashing: Clean Hands Save Lives

Handwashing: Clean Hands Save Lives

We've all heard it repeated more times than we can count.....wash your hands.
IN this day and age of the entero virus, and ebola, it is more important than ever to wash those hands....
I think many of us take germs for granted....and who know where that shopping cart or $5 bill has been?
Who's been in that taxi before you?
Who just read that library book?

Wash those hands.

How should you wash your hands?

Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap.

Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Be sure to lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.

Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the "Happy Birthday" song from beginning to end twice.

Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.

Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.

Keep your fingers out your nose and eyes if they aren't clean. I am convinced this is the most common way viruses and bacteria get transmitted.

a reply to: DontTreadOnMe

We've all heard it repeated more times than we can count.....wash your hands.

And we need to keep on hearing it. Evidently, doctors and nurses need reminding, too...

Getting health care professionals to comply with notices to wash their hands before and after dealing with patients has been something of a thorn in the side of many hospitals. Although this simple measure limits the spread of sickness — and could potentially reduce the nation’s hospital health care bill by billions of dollars — many doctors and nurses simply ignore it. Compliance rates for hand washing in American hospitals are only around 40 percent, and years of awareness programs urging doctors to wash up or use disinfectant gels have had little effect.

Getting doctors to wash their hands
That means, on average, 6 out of 10 doctors handle their next patient without washing their hands!

a reply to: Klassified

Another reason to avoid doctors....hell, I think my vet even washes his hands before handling our dog.
That is a most disconcerting statistic


a reply to: skunkape23

Great advice.....as well as
"cover your mouth when you cough....cover your nose when you sneeze"

I Am also a great fan of Bleach......none of that fancy and expensive cleaning stuff for sanitizing....most of which don't work worth a damn for cleaning.

Also, disposable gloves are a must....and we do have some disposable masks....

Everybody should wash their hands. Only problem is once you're done your hands become coated in germs from the towels, door handles, even adjusting your own clothes.

It's gross to not wash your hands but in a way it's like a temporary fix.

Everybody should wash their hands. Only problem is once you're done your hands become coated in germs from the towels, door handles, even adjusting your own clothes.

a reply to: Yeahkeepwatchingme

Yep, I always think of that when I'm in a public restroom. You wash your hands and than open the door handle that is probably coated with germs by the people who don't wash their hands! I try to use a paper towel to open the door and than discard it somewhere nearby. Germs are everywhere!

a reply to: Yeahkeepwatchingme

I usually grab another piece of paper towel for the door handles in public lavatories.

Scary thing is to have a small child and HAVE to use those baby changing stations....UGH!!!!!!!!!!!

a reply to: WeRpeons

Precisely. That's why it's so hard to keep clean in any situation, not to mention an area with sick people. Clean for a few seconds, and minutes later you're crawling once again

You have to wonder if cleaning your hands all the time can actually reduce your own bodies immune system. With all the antibacterial and sanitizers being used, I sometimes feel it's handicapping your own immune system from using it's own defense mechanisms to fight off infections. It's one of the reasons why doctors are told not to prescribe too many antibiotics because it just makes the bacteria more resistant.

I sometimes think the more you surround yourself with bacteria, the stronger your immune system. I may be wrong, but it seems like Medical professionals, teachers, and others who are in an environment that have a steady contact with germs everyday, don't seem to get sick as often as compared to those who are not in contact as much with the general public. I compare it to getting allergy shots. They keep on increasing the allergen until your body can accept it.

a reply to: WeRpeons

I've noticed the connection between weakened immune systems and antibacterial products. Constantly using rubbing alcohol and other chemicals doesn't give your immune system much of a workout, no excuses to stretch its muscles. So when a big illness comes along it lasts longer and hits harder.

I know a former chief senior PA of nearly 40 years who would rarely get sick, but would pass all kinds of illnesses to everybody from their patients.

a reply to: Klassified

Remember, if you try this in a public restroom in the "land of the free", the penalty is seven years in prison and an unlimited fine.

Also, being unnaturally clean is damaging our immune systems and causing a lot of health problems.

I have a small bottle of alcohol gel on me at all times, helps If I need to light a fire also....or get drunk .

originally posted by: supermouse
a reply to: Klassified

Remember, if you try this in a public restroom in the "land of the free", the penalty is seven years in prison and an unlimited fine.

Also, being unnaturally clean is damaging our immune systems and causing a lot of health problems.

You'll have to clue me in on the public restroom reference. But I agree that obsessive compulsive cleansing can have a detrimental effect on us. Especially when you add the chemicals in the myriad of products we use.

a reply to: DontTreadOnMe

Here in Australia we have had the pump alcohol disinfectant dispensers - all over for a while. I use them. Hospitals in particular are hotspots for the transmission of nasty things pertaining to our humanity ...

For your own health & safety - as well as family and community is concerned .. no better advice than OP's ref.

Thwart it with a sterile envoironment !

That costs nothing !! ...

Have a shower while you are at it !

Phew !

a reply to: WeRpeons

Unless absolutely necessary or totally unavoidable, we use regular soap.
I agree with bombarding our systems with anti-bacterial products....just seems like it cannot be good for you or a healthy environment.

I know people who will NOT use bleach because they believe it to be dangerous and toxic.
Whatever happened to common sense???
Not that we need bleach on our skin, but for cleaning bathrooms...adding to laundry when needed, etc.[

a reply to: Timely

We have some sort of hand cleaning station at many stores....but I've noticed the longer they are there...the less likely they are maintained.
As if it was important for a few weeks.....

Many many moons ago when I was going to university, I worked nights at a casino as a cashier handling 100's of thousands of dollars all night long.

When I would go on my coffee break, I headed straight to the staff washroom to scrub my hands before even thinking of touching my coffee cup. The water would literally run almost black.

That's how filthy money is.

a reply to: CranialSponge

Just from handling one bill I feel sick. And change, you can literally feel the film on each coin when you hold a bunch.

I see this as another reason to move us to a cashless society. Less germs, less bacterial/virological transfers.

Then I see them going after credit cards, swipe machines, handing your chip back and forth because "it too has germs!"

Finally ending in everybody holding their hand under some scanner to purchase.

I should just work for TPTB already. I know their tricks!

a reply to: WeRpeons

I do the same thing, paper town on the door handle is the only way out of a public restroom. If their out of paper towels I will open the door with my foot. I also rip off the first few sheets of toilet paper and never use the first toilet seat cover in the box.

a reply to: Jennyfrenzy

I also rip off the first few sheets of toilet paper and never use the first toilet seat cover in the box.

Wow, and I thought I was careful in the restroom. lol My wife doesn't even sit on the seat! I still don't know how she does it. I can picture someone losing their balance and falling on the floor. lol

They're mine and I will wash them as often as I want and for as long as I want. :p