Hand Washing for Hand Hygiene and Prevention from Transmission of Pathogens

HAND WASHING

“Don’t be a bum wash off the scum.” Have you ever thought of what this so important hand washing or hand hygiene is? Is it just symbolically washing your hands  or something more than that ? Some People behave as if they don’t know the advantages of washing  their hands in their day to day activities .The attitude of the people all over the world regarding hand washing differs according to different countries , different cultures ,different religions , various economical situations and various educational levels .Especially in developing countries and under developed countries the attitude to hand washing  is very poor. Despite all those things ,it is nothing else than a thing giving you health  perks.
HOW AND WHERE DO OUR HANDS BECOME  DIRTY ? 

1. By touching dirty things in day-today activities

2. B y   handling patients of various diseases

3. Touching various things in schools by children.

4. Touching  raw  meat  ( poultry , fish )

5. Touching seats, belts and bars in vehicles of public transport

6. From  animals  and pets like cats and dogs

7. By   one’s own waste like excreta if not washed off well

8. By dust in the wind

9. By sneezing and coughing on to hands

10. Places where many people are in close contact with one another.

HOW DO WE GET AFFECTED BY OUR DIRTY HANDS

Adults, children, students, patients, workers, touch their eyes, noses, mouths by their dirty hands that have accumulated germs throughout the day. Pathogens including bacteria, viruses and fungus get into our bodies through these organs .from these microbes we get influenza respiratory diseases diarrhea and skin diseases.

WHAT ARE THESE MICROBES

1. Salmonella   - causes   diarrhea

2. E coli 0157   - causes  diarrhea

3. Noro  virus -  causes  diarrhea

4.Rhino virus  - causes  common cold and  influenza

WHAT IS HAND WASHING THEN ?

Dont think that HAND WASHING is symbolically washing your hands. Don't think that it is a cultural or religious ritual.Think THROUGHLY and CONSCIOUSLY that it is a washing that protect you and others from infections.Think that it is a washing that prevents germs transmitting from one person to another and think that it keeps you healthy. Everybody should change their mind in that way.Although it is impossible to keep your hands fully germ free, washing your hands frequently can help limit the transmission of bacteria virus and other microbes.DON'T UNDER ASTIMATE the power of hand washing.The few seconds you spend at the sink could save your trips to see the doctor in hospital.

 WHEN TO WASH YOUR HANDS

Wash off your hands thoroughly with soap and clean   running water  

1. Before , during and after preparing food ( especially raw meat )

2. Before eating food

3. Before inserting and removing contact lenses

4. Before and after treating and caring for sick or injured person

5. After wearing and removing foot ware and socks

6. After  handling garbage,

7. After handling household or garden chemicals

8.  After  shaking  hands with others     

9. After cleaning your kids who are back from toilet

10.  After  handling  animals and pets

11.  After  changing diapers                                                                                                                 

12. Whenever you feel your hands  are  dirty

TH INGS YOU SHOULD USE TO WASH YOUR HAND   

                             

1. Solid soap

2. Liquid soap

 3. Antiseptic solid soap 

4. Antiseptic liquid soap

5. Ash or mud

6. Water temperature

7.Hand sanitizers

USING ASH AND MUD TO WASH HANDS

Although it is rather a primitive method to use ash and mud  

to wash hands, it is still somewhat effective in emergency 
situations such as natural disasters.Ifpeople  in low income
communities cannot  afford soap, they too can do so, 

although it is not fully advisable. And ash and mud 
dono't eliminate germs fully.

ADVANTAGES OF WASHING HANDS
People around you, your dear ones and you will get many 
advantages by washing hands. You will not fall sick.you will 
not become a carrier of illness to others.Your money and
time will be saved as you don't want to stay in hospitals.
You will live long.
MY WISH
May  all living beings be free of suffering from diseases
caused by pathogenes. If you happened to read my article
please comment on it and pass the message to others
to read it.Make the world aware of  the importance of
hand washing. May you all live long.
(await images)