Hand Washing Clean Hands Will Protect You Against COVID 19

Hand washing

Hand washing is the single most important thing you can do to help reduce the spread of infection, like Coronavirus. It is especially important to teach your children because it will ensure this becomes a lifelong habit. It is equally important if you are a carer or visiting friends or family or relatives in the hospital.

Facts about hand washing

Up to half of men and a quarter of women fail their hands after going to the toilet. Yo have between 2 to 10 billion bacteria between your fingertip and elbow. The number of germs on your hands doubles after you have been to the toilet. Germs can stay alive on your hands for up to 3 hours.

Consequences of poor hand hygiene

Coronavirus ( Covid-19), Salmonella, campylobacter, MRSA, Flu, diarrhoea and sickness, the common cold and impetigo are just some of the viruses and infections passed between people who do not wash their hands. Children and the elderly are most likely to get very ill and die from foodborne illnesses which could be prevented by proper handwashing.

When to wash your hands

You should wash your hands before you prepare or eat food, treat any type of wound or visit a hospital ward. You should wash your hands after you have used the bathroom, handles uncooked food, blown your nose, coughed or sneezed, touch animals, taken out the rubbish, changed a nappy, worked or played in the garden, touched a sick person or visited a hospital ward.

How to wash your hands

According to the World Health Organisation, it should take 20 to 30 seconds to wash your hands with the alcohol-based formulation and 40 to 60 seconds using soap and water. It is important to dry them thoroughly as well. See the video on how to wash your hands.

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