Germs can be found in every nook and cranny of our lives. They’re literally everywhere: your home, office, school and especially hospitals; these places are all prone to nasty bacteria.
With numerous ways to clean and disinfect, there is one simple thing you can do to make a big impact on keeping germs at bay:
Wash your hands.
It may seem like common knowledge, but there are still many diseases and conditions that are spread by not washing hands with soap and water.
If soap and water are not readily available, try using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
While it doesn’t get rid of all types of germs, it does disinfect for the most part until you are able to access soap and clean, running water.
Handy Hints
On average, a person washes their hands more than six times a day.
If that seems excessive, take into account that you should be washing your hands any time before you eat, which works out to approximately 3 to 4 times a day.
You should also be washing your hands after going to the bathroom, which also works out to about 8 times per day!
Other times you should be washing your hands:
- Preparing food
- After sneezing or blowing your nose
- While caring for someone who is sick
- After taking out the garbage
- After changing diapers
- If handling an animal or picking up animal waste
- Treating a cut or an injury
Clean Up
Washing your hands properly is easy.
- Wet your hands with clean, running water
- Apply soap and lather your hands by rubbing them together for at least thirty seconds
- Rinse your hands
- Dry your hands with an air dryer or a clean towel
If you’re using a public restroom, take a piece of paper towel and use it to open the door to get out of the bathroom. This will keep your hands clean from any bacteria that may be on the door handle.
Healthy habits can help protect everyone from getting sick, and hand hygiene is the best way to reduce the spread of germs and bacteria.