It's In Your Hands

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How many times did your mother tell you to wash your hands after going to the bathroom? It was good advice. But it seems some people weren't listening. While recent surveys show 95 per cent of people say they wash their hands after going to the bathroom the reality is much different. According to the American Society for Microbiology observations in public restrooms showed only six in ten people actually washed their hands. In other words 40 per cent of people do not wash their hands after going to the bathroom.

Just think about all the things you touched today in addition to the flush on the restroom toilet - money the escalator railing the safety bar on the subway and a myriad of other things also touched by other people. You can't see them but everything you touch is covered with germs. If you put your fingers in your mouth or touch your nose or eyes you can make yourself sick. You can also make others sick by passing the germs on to them.

Hand washing is considered the most important single procedure for preventing the spread of germs. Not only does it help combat the spread of the flu and cold it also affords protection against the Norwalk virus and now SARs or Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome.

Dr. Colin D'Cunha Ontario's Commissioner of Public Health and Chief Medical Officerstresses the importance of good hygiene such as hand washing in preventing illness.

"Hand washing is the single most effective way to prevent the spread of communicable diseases such as SARS" Dr. D'Cunha said. "It's also important to follow the other advice that we've passed on about SARS."

But what exactly is "proper hand washing"? Just rinsing your hands under running water won't do the job. You need to lather them up with soap and rub them vigorously together for 10 to 15 seconds preferably even longer. Don't forget to scrub in between the fingers under the nails and the top of the hands themselves. Rinse with warm running water.

A proper hand wash

  • use soap and warm running water
  • wash all surfaces thoroughly including wrists palms backs of hands fingers and under fingernails
  • rub hands together for at least 10 to 15 seconds
  • when drying use a clean or disposable towel if possible and pat your skin rather than rubbing in order to avoid chapping and cracking
  • apply hand lotion after washing to soothe skin and help prevent drying.

Particular attention should be given to cleaning objects that are frequently handled such as taps door handles knobs banisters toilets and bath rails.