The Importance of Hand Hygiene for Disease Prevention

The World Hand Hygiene Day is celebrated on May 5, 2024. The decision to hold such a day annually was made by the UN General Assembly in conjunction with UNICEF and the World Health Organization in 2008.

Microbes can enter the body through the nose, eyes, and mouth; each of us touches our face many times a day without even realizing it. Microbes from unwashed hands can contaminate food and drinks, and they are also easily transferred to surfaces and objects. Washing hands with soap removes microbes from the hands, leading to a reduction in respiratory infections, eye and skin diseases, and also reduces the risk of intestinal infections.

Scientists have noticed that proper hand hygiene helps combat the problem of increasing bacterial resistance to antibiotics. If we successfully get rid of microorganisms by washing our hands, there are fewer situations where we need antibiotics (we get seriously ill less often). And with less frequent use of antibiotics, bacteria do not have time to develop resistance, and antibiotics retain their effectiveness, helping in truly difficult cases.

How to properly observe hand hygiene to prevent the transmission of infection?

In some cases, hands should always be washed, for example, after using the toilet, changing diapers, caring for sick children and adults, before preparing food, and after handling raw meat. In addition, it is recommended to wash hands after cleaning, gardening, or caring for animals. A great rule: always wash your hands after returning home from outside.

Try not to touch your face with unwashed hands. If you cough or sneeze, do so into a tissue (paper handkerchief), then discard the used tissue and wash your hands. If you do not have a handkerchief or tissue at hand, it is recommended to cough or sneeze into your elbow, as this part of the body is less likely to come into contact with surfaces and objects, and thus you can try to reduce the spread of microbes.

The correct way to wash your hands is to lather soap to cover your entire hand (fingers, palm, and back of the hand), rub your soapy hands together for approximately twenty seconds, and rinse the soap off with warm water. Dry your hands with a paper towel, and use a paper towel to turn off the faucet or, if necessary, to open the restroom door.

Before washing your hands, it is important to remove watches and jewelry. Some people suffer from skin irritation after using soap. It may be helpful to know that there are soaps with different pH levels (neutral, slightly alkaline, or slightly acidic), as well as fragrance-free soaps. You can choose a soap that does not cause irritation.

Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are extremely effective against most pathogens (viruses and bacteria) that can be transmitted through hands. However, it is difficult to thoroughly clean the entire surface of the hands with alcohol-based and antibacterial wipes, so they are mainly used to remove visible dirt when there is no opportunity to wash hands in the usual way.

It is very important for adults to set an example for their children and teach them proper hand hygiene.

Keeping your hands clean is quite simple; the harder part is remembering to do it. Remember that clean hands will keep you and your loved ones healthy.

State Institution "Rassonsky RTCGE", 2024.