Poor Hand Washing Could Be Deadly

Hand washing is a vital part of our everyday lives, playing a crucial role in preventing the spread of illness. While often overlooked, proper hand washing is essential year-round. From the winter months, when colds and flu are rampant, to the summer gatherings where food is shared, clean hands can significantly reduce the risk of infection.

Wash Your Hands Before You Eat

Washing your hands before you eat is more than about spreading cold or flu viruses or the coronavirus.

A study indicates that 97 percent of people don't wash their hands properly before handling food. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that one out of six people gets food poisoning every year. That's 48 million people, of which 128,000 are hospitalized and 3,000 die from food poisoning. Many cases of foodborne illnesses are caused by dirty hands preparing food.

To decrease your risk of food poisoning this holiday season, make sure you are washing your hands, the right way, before consuming food.

How To Wash Your Hands Right

Is there a right way to wash your hands? There is.

Most people rush hand washing, skip using soap, don't wet their hands or they dry off with a soiled towel. Take the time to thoroughly wash your hands to prevent the spread of disease. And some surprising news about that beloved bottle of hand sanitizer: While it's tempting to use a squirt of sanitizer instead of washing, it's not as effective as traditional scrubbing. Hand sanitizer is best when you don't have access to soap and water.

Otherwise, follow these basic hand washing steps whenever possible:

1. Wet your hands with water - warm if possible.
2. Apply soap and rub hands together, creating a lather on the palms and backs of hands as well as between the fingers.
3. Continue rubbing your hands together for approximately 20 seconds. (This is where singing “Happy Birthday” twice can help you. Singing “Happy Birthday” twice takes approximately 15- 20 seconds.)
4. Rinse your hands in clean, running water.
5. Dry your hands using a clean paper towel. Some studies have shown that using a paper towel reduces bacteria on hands, while an air dyer (available in many public bathrooms) does not and may actually increase bacteria, a potential concern to anyone with any condition in which general immunity is compromised.
6. When washing hands at home, most of us have a hand towel in the bathroom. Towels can trap bacteria and provide a place for them to multiply, creating a source for illness for the next person who uses the towel. While this is not an issue most of the time, it is especially helpful to place paper towels in your bathroom when someone in your home is ill, or give the person who is sick his or her own hand towel to use.
7. When soap and water are not available, an alcohol-based hand sanitizer will work. Apply sanitizer to your hand and rub your palms together, covering both sides of your hands as well as between your fingers. Continue rubbing until your hands are dry. Warning: Keep all hand sanitizers away from small children. Do not leave on a counter or in a place where young children have easy access. If swallowed, see medical help immediately or contact the Poison Control Center.

9 Times To Wash Your Hands

Hand washing is one of the best ways to protect yourself and your family from getting sick and the CDC recommends washing hands during these key times, when you are likely to get and share germs. Make sure to give your hands a thorough cleanse in these situations:

• Before, during and after preparing a meal or handling food
• After touching raw meat or eggs
• After using the bathroom or changing a diaper
• After touching animals or their food, waste or toys
• Before and after caring for someone who is sick or treating wounds
• After touching garbage
• After blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing
• After using the toilet
• After touching an animal, animal feed, animal waste, pet food or pet treats

Food Poisoning Symptoms

Sharing food at potlucks and parties is a part of life, especially around the holidays or during summer barbecue season. If you left a party and started feeling sick within a few hours or days, you may have food poisoning.

Food poisoning symptoms include:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Cramps
• Fever

For most people, the symptoms resolve in several hours to days. But some people – such as children, the elderly and those with compromised immunity (people with chronic conditions like diabetes) – may experience life-threatening illness. Contact your doctor to see if you need to be evaluated or if it's safe to rest and recover at home.

Less than a minute of thorough hand washing can keep you and your loved ones healthy. At your next backyard get-together or holiday party, don't spread germs – instead, spread the word about proper hand washing.