Handwashing 101: Keeping Clean and Healthy

Handwashing is the simple, most effective way of staying healthy in a world where germs are everywhere! Every person I know would like a quick fix when they come down with a "bug", but the easiest way to deal with being sick, is to not get sick. Handwashing frequently will decrease your chances of catching a virus by thoroughly cleansing your hands and washing the virus particles off.

Handwashing as a preventative measure was discovered by Ignaz Semmelweis. Semmelweis was a Hungarian physician who discovered that the reason so many women were dying while giving birth was because other physicians were not washing their hands between patients. At the time, the reason women were dying was from puerperal fever. Puerperal fever was killing mothers of newborns at an alarming rate in the 1840's, and was a widespread problem at many hospitals. Semmelweis discovered that washing hands with chlorinated lime water cut the incidence of puerperal fever drastically. Therefore, Handwashing as a preventative measure to illness began.

The flu and cold are caught through the nose, mouth, and eyes. The red parts of these areas are called the mucus membranes. When your hands come in contact with a doorknob, for example, and there are germs on there, they are now on your hands. Then, you rub your nose, or touch your lips, rub your eyes, now the germs have come in contact with your mucus membranes. The mucus membranes are a protective mechanism and will try to protect your body from germs. However, some viruses can penetrate the membrane and multiply. This is when you start to feel sick. Runny nose, sore throat, achy muscles, exhaustion, headache, and all the other indicators that you feel sick are your body's way of saying, "I am fighting a virus and need time to heal." All of this can be prevented by washing your hands frequently and not touching your face, specifically, during cold and flu season. The only thing that can fix these two viruses are time and rest. Antibiotics do NOT treat viruses.

Handwashing technique is very important. When using soap, use warm water and soap, rub your hands together vigorously using friction, (when you rub your hands together fast and feel warmth, that is friction), and hum happy birthday or the "ABC" song. When you have finished the song, rinse your hands and wipe them on either a clean towel or paper towel. Turn off the water facet with the paper towel and open the door with the paper towel. This way your bare, clean hands do not come in contact with the dirty door knob.

The best way to stay healthy all year round is to wash your hands and do not touch your face. Handwashing gets rid of a lot of germs that cause illness, we catch viruses though the membranes that line the mouth, nose, and eyes, and correct technique is extremely important. Through these steps, you may be able to keep you and your family healthier throughout the cold and flu season.

Resources:

Wikipedia.com. "Ignaz Semmelweis"

http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ignaz_Semmelweis

"Kids hand Washing Activities."

http://www.colgate.com/app/LatherUpForGoodHealth/US/Kids.cvsp