In every public restroom, we see laminated cards bursting with information on washing our hands. We’ve come a long way historically, and we see hand washing as beneficial now instead of weird or unnecessary. But do you know why it’s so beneficial, or how to do it right?
History
Most people didn’t actually start washing their hands for health reasons until the middle of the 19th century. From then on, people finally began to understand that the spread of disease came from micro-organisms like bacteria and viruses, and not from bad smells. This outdated belief is why plague doctors used to wear those beak-shaped masks full of flowers.
Even with the discovery of germ theory, people didn’t always wash correctly. Many foodborne outbreaks or infections still happened, up through the 1980s when the CDC promoted better hygiene to prevent dangerous diseases.
The reason we now see those cards and signs in restrooms is partly due to the swine flu epidemic in 2009. Education on hand washing and sanitizing techniques helped keep many people healthy, along with the vaccination.
Benefits of Hand Washing
Obviously, since the discovery of germ theory, we’ve learned that hand washing can keep you from getting sick. It washes away the pathogens that travel on our food, that linger on hand rails and door knobs, and the germs left behind from other people coughing or sneezing.
But it can help prevent other people from getting sick. For example, washing your hands and using proper food safety keeps foodborne illnesses like salmonella or hepatitis from spreading, regardless of whether it affects you. Pathogens off of food or public transit can spread by slight contact with another person.
In fact, around the world, 1.8 million children under 5 die from pneumonia and diseases causing diarrhea. Proper hand washing could prevent 1 of 3 of diarrhea-related deaths, and 1 out of 5 for pneumonia. This is not because other people don’t wash their hands at all; they just don’t use soap.
Another great benefit of hand washing is that it can help lower antibiotic resistance. If you take care of your hands, you don’t need to get antibiotic medications–and in turn, you won’t develop resistance to diseases later in life. You can also wash away those germs that already are resistant to antibiotics, saving yourself that difficult treatment!
Washing Your Hands Properly
Always use soap and clean running water to wash your hands! This is the only way you will wash away enough of those pathogens to stay healthy.
First, wet your hands with running water. Then, apply soap in any form. Rub your hands for at least 20 seconds, being sure to scrub between your fingers, under your nails, and the backs of your palms. If you do these things, 20 seconds should be no problem!
Rinse off the soap and, if you can, use a towel or your elbow to turn off the water. Don’t grab the faucet with your bare hands–this will only reintroduce germs. Use a clean towel or air dryer to dry your hands.
When leaving a restroom, use an extra towel if you can to open the door. If you can’t, use a dab of hand sanitizer after leaving.
Do you wash your hands correctly? If not, now is the time to start! Keep yourself and your family safe by getting into the habit now.