Everyday hygiene is a very important part of life. In fact washing your hands alone can prevent the spread of a number of diseases that claim the lives of millions of children every year. Some of the diseases include noroviruses which are viruses that cause gastrointestinal infections, respiratory illnesses, nosocomial viruses, and hepatitis A.
As a way to minimize the spread of germs is by knowing when to wash your hands. Some good times include:
- Before and after preparing food
- Before eating
- After using the toilet
- When treating a cut or wound
- After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
Now once you know when to wash your hands another key piece of information is how to wash your hands correctly. First, you need to use warm or cold water to wet your hands and apply soap. Then rub your hands together and make sure to get key areas like the palms, backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under you nails. Make sure to wash your hands for at least 20 seconds; one good way to time is to sing your "ABC's". Finally, rinse your hands well and then dry them.
Hand washing is so important that it has its own day! October 15th is Global Handwashing Day and each year more than 200 million people celebrate in over 100 countries. Their goal is that by 2015 is to reduce the number of deaths of children under five by 2/3!
http://www.livestrong.com/article/90832-diseases-spread-not-washing-hands/
http://www.cdc.gov/features/handwashing/
http://globalhandwashing.org/ghw-day/about.
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