IN HEALTH NEWS

Germs & How They Affect Our Lives: Hand Hygiene

Germs are everywhere They are on our skin, in our stomach and they are on every surface that we touch on a daily basis Most infections are spread through contact with our hands

Hand washing is an easy way to prevent infections & and illness. According to the CDC, clean hands save lives. About 1.8 million children under the age of 5 die each year from diarrheal diseases and pneumonia, the top two killers of young children around the world. Handwashing with soap could protect about 1 out of every 3 young children who get sick with diarrhea and almost 1 out of 5 young children with respiratory infections like pneumonia.

Hand Washing can prevent about 30% of diarrhea-related illnesses and about 20% of respiratory infections (e.g., colds)

How to perform proper hand hygiene:

1 Wet your hands with clean, running water either warm or cold

2 Apply soap and lather well

3 Rub your hands vigorously for at least 20 seconds or sing the happy birthday song twice

4 Remember to scrub all surfaces, including the backs of your hands, wrists, between your fingers, and under your fingernails.

5. Rinse well.

6. Dry your hands with a clean towel or air-dry them.