Hand washing is one of the best and most effective ways of controlling the spread of diseases – if done correctly. As we accumulate germs on our hands, we can infect ourselves with these germs by touching our eyes, mouth or nose which act as entryways into our body. Dirty hands can spread germs to others if you touch them directly, or if you touch a surface that they also touch. The best way to clean your hands is to use soap and clean running water. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are also great at germ-killing. Antibacterial soaps are NOT recommended because they are no more effective than regular soap. Furthermore, they may induce the development of bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics. For proper hand-washing follow these simple rules:
1. Use warm running water to wet your hands first, then apply a liquid or bar soap.
2. Rub your hands together vigorously for at least 15 to 20 seconds, making sure that all surfaces are exposed to the soap, including your wrists, between the fingers, back of the hands and under the fingernails.
3. Rinse well and dry with a clean or disposable towel.
4. Turn off the faucet with a disposable towel to prevent contaminating your hands.
Tags: alcohol, antibacterial, disease, germs, hand washing, sanitizer, soaps
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Dr. Steven Chang, the author of DailyDose, is a staff physician with Kosmix RightHealth. Dr. Chang practices Family Medicine at the University of California Davis Medical Center, where his medical interests include both pediatric and geriatric care, public health, gay and lesbian health, and sleep medicine. Dr. Chang trained at the Stanford University affiliated O'Connor Hospital, and was a research fellow at the National Institute of Health. He holds an M.D. from McGill University and a BA in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University.
April 28th, 2009 at 3:26 am
I am sure that I am not in the correct location for this very,VERY important email I need to get to the correct person. I am blind and use a screenreader (Zoomtext w.speech) and I also take Sandoz brand Omnitrope. Before starting on this awesome GODsend, I had to use 14xpwr w/speech reading to me and now can use as low as 4xpower and read the letters myself at times! I have a form of juv. macular degeneration called “Stargardt’s Disease” (fundusflavismaculatis) and have been going blind since 17yrs. old, was diag. in the USMC and am now 40. Thanks to Omnitrope and Sandoz, I saw my son play football and make a sack for the first time ever this past season.,saw a butterfly,a cardnal,ect. which I have not seen in years if ever! SOMEONE needs to be aware of this! I cannot find out whom to send it to,so I am just putting my stuff out there! Please help get it to the right folks!
GOD BLESS,
Casey A. Ragan
318 348 7887
caseyr69@bellsouth.net
ps: if research has already be done on this,please forgive me
April 28th, 2009 at 3:29 am
The article on hand washing is great ! There is so much confusion out there and it is nice that an expert will lay out the facts in a plain and easy to use manner for all. Thanks for the time!
February 18th, 2010 at 12:16 pm
Thanks for this post I will be forwarding it to my sister.