Why Hand Hygiene Is Important A lot of diseases and germs are transmittable by hand contact. After the preventative measure of hand washing, hand drying is next in order. Hand drying is important because any left-over bacteria on the hands after washing can be removed. These are other considerations that make hand drying an important act: • Hand Washing May Be Done Wrongly: It is common knowledge that washing the hands with soap is the most effective hand hygiene habit. However, there is no quality control system to confirm proper handwashing in a toilet. Hand drying is then the last resort to save most people. • Germs Can Easily Be Passed Through Wet Skin: Germs tend to remain on improperly washed hands. The hand in a wet state can quickly transfer just about any form of germ to other surfaces. Germ survival is less likely on dry skin. The use of air dryers and paper towels are the main methods of hand drying. As mentioned, there has been a constant comparison on which of the two is the best. Let’s examine them.
Hygiene Paper towels are the clear winner in this comparison. Paper towels are one-use. All you need to do is wipe your hands with it and then dump them in the bin. This accounts for effective hand drying and less contamination within the space of the toilet. Jet air dryers blow fast air to the point that it might cause germs to fly through the toilet space. This puts other and future toilet users at risk of contamination. Warm hand dryers, with the warm environment they create, are believed to aid bacteria growth. 59