Our hands are frequently covered by microbes on touching surfaces, objects and people. By touching the hands to our eyes, nose or mouth, we easily get infected ourselves.
Handwashing is the best practice for preventing the spread of illnesses. But how and when it should be done? How does it help prevent contamination?
When to wash hands?
Hands must be washed before and after:
-
Preparing and eating food
-
Treating wounds
-
Caring sick people
-
Entering or leaving a public place
-
Putting in and removing contact lenses
Hands must be compulsorily washed after using the toilet, touching animals, blowing nose, coughing and sneezing.
How to wash?
-
Wet your hands with clean, running water
-
Apply soap and lather well
-
Scrub all the surfaces –back of the hands, wrists, between fingers, under fingernails for at least 20 seconds
-
Rinse well and dry the hands with a clean towel
Now we shall address some questions regarding the handwashing steps and how handwashing helps prevent contamination?
What does the soap do to the microbes?
Our skin is coated in natural oils. This greasy layer acts as a clutch for bacteria and viruses. Soap molecules excavate that layer and break it apart.
Why should we scrub?
Physical scrubbing displaces microbes from the skin surface. This is the core action which removes contamination.
Active scrubbing generates enough friction to break up the thin biofilm where bacteria hide.
Why scrub for 20 seconds, why not a shorter time?
20 seconds gives soap enough time to do its job. Soap breaks apart the oily layer that binds microbes to our skin and physically scrub them loose.
Why drying matter after handwashing?
Wet hands get easily contaminated than dry ones. Hence, never forget to pat or rub your hands with a clean towel.
Use of Handwash dispensers are recommended than using soap.
Alcohol-based hand sanitizers can be used when handwash and water is not available.
I would like to put forward one question here:
Is it better to handwash or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer? Also, do you think 20 seconds is sufficient for handwashing? Share your thoughts.
Source: Mayo Clinic: Handwashing-Do’s and Don’ts
Why Should You Wash Your Hands for 20 Seconds? - ScienceInsights