World Hand Hygiene Day: Phones & keys can be dirtier than you think; it's crucial to maintain hygiene

Learning the proper technique to washing hands will help keep Covid-19 at bay during the pandemic. Washing hands offer fool proof protection against germs, viruses, and bacteria. Whether you are at home or travelling, it is essential to maintain good hand hygiene.

Skipping washing hands after you get back home or before your meal can take a turn for the worse. Hand washing may seem like a small and tedious step, but can have a major impact on your well-being. When one steps out to buy medicines or groceries, there is not way of knowing where those packaged items have been, and can things bring in germs and bacteria along.

Not maintaining proper hand hygiene can put you at the risk of suffering from various diseases, allergies and health conditions. The diseases range from gastrointestinal infections like salmonella, respiratory infections, and even influenza. Food poisoning, chickenpox, respiratory and skin infections can spread just via a handshake. Germs can transfer from unwashed hands to the food and drinks you are handling. Excreta of people or animals accidentally mixed in food or drinking water can cause salmonella, E.Coli bacteria and norovirus, leading to diarrhoea and spreading of infections such as adenovirus and hand-foot-mouth disease.


Make sure you clean telephone wires, door handles, wallets, keys, doorknobs, countertops, among other objects, as they contain germs and bacteria that can be transferred on touching. Germs tend to stick to your hands after visiting the restroom or changing the baby's diaper. Washing hands will prevent diarrhoea, respiratory, skin and eye infections.

Currently, during the pandemic, it is the need of the hour to wash the hands as it is one of the most effective ways to curb the spread of the virus. People tend to touch their eyes, mouth and nose, and the virus can enter your body from hands.

When is the ideal time to wash your hands?

• After accessing the washroom
• Before having the meal
• Before preparing food
• Before and after changing the nappies of the baby
• After using a handkerchief or tissue for coughing or sneezing
• Before taking medication
• After touching the doorknob, kitchen counter-top, wallets, keys, remote, and doors.
• After touching animals or handling the garbage
• Before and after attending sick members in the family.

How to wash your hands properly?

• Wash your hands with running clear water from the tap. Apply soap to your hands. And it need not be an antibacterial soap. Any soap recommended by your doctor will help you kill the germs, bacteria, and viruses present on the hands.
• Rub your hands properly and wash the back of the hands, wrists, between the fingers, and even under your nails. Lather for at least 20 seconds. Make sure that no traces of soap are left behind. If the soap is causing skin irritation when it comes to your hands then consult the doctor.
• Do not wear rings while washing your hands as they may contain bacteria.
• Dry your hands with a clean towel. Keep a separate towel for each family member for cleaning the hands.
• To make your children wash their hands, just sing along with them while doing so. Tell them stories about handwashing and killing the germs. Supervise how they wash their hands. Set handwashing reminders for them. Reward them when they wash their hands.

Tips to maintain hand hygiene

• Use gloves while washing utensils and protect your hands.
• Use gloves while you opt for gardening and handling the soil.
• Swear by a good hand cream recommended by the doctor.
• Use a hand sanitizer when required.
• If you are required to visit the hospital then wash your hands after coming home.

(The author is Consultant Physician at Wockhardt Hospital, Mira Road)

World Hand Hygiene Day: Sanitisers Are Better Than Soaps, And Other Myths Busted

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Keeping your hands clean menas staying healthy. As easy as it appears, washing hands come with a lot of dos and don'ts that people are not aware of.

On World Hand Hygiene Day, here's a list of facts that will ensure you always choose the right way to wash your hands.

Keeping your hands clean menas staying healthy. As easy as it appears, washing hands come with a lot of dos and don'ts that people are not aware of.On World Hand Hygiene Day, here's a list of facts t..

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Fact: You don't need an antibacterial soap for clean hands. For regular use, pick any hand soap. Antibacterial soaps should be only used when a person is ill or in healthcare places where patients have poor immunity. If you have pets at home, antibacterial soap makes sense.

However, avoid overusing antibacterial products as it can drastically reduce healthy bacteria living on your skin. Moreover, using them excessively can also make your body less effective in fighting new germs.

Fact: You don't need an antibacterial soap for clean hands. For regular use, pick any hand soap. Antibacterial soaps should be only used when a person is ill or in healthcare places where patients ha..

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Fact: Hand sanitisers (with 60% alcohol content) should be used if you don't have access to water and soap. While sanitisers only remove some germs quickly for some time, using soap and water to wash hands can keep them away for a long time. Sanitisers should be applied till your hands are dry, which takes merely 20 seconds.

Also, the effectiveness of sanitisers drops when used on greasy or dirty hands.

Fact: Hand sanitisers (with 60% alcohol content) should be used if you don't have access to water and soap. While sanitisers only remove some germs quickly for some time, using soap and water to wash..

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Fact: Just remember 20 seconds of scrubbing every time you plan to wash your hands. In case you are not sure how long 20 seconds are, just hum the 'Happy Birthday' tune in your head, twice. Since hand sanitisers are not enough in removing harmful chemicals, it is important to spare 20 seconds to wash your hands with a soap as it enters the cell wall and kills all viruses and bacterias.

Fact: Just remember 20 seconds of scrubbing every time you plan to wash your hands. In case you are not sure how long 20 seconds are, just hum the 'Happy Birthday' tune in your head, twice. Since han..

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Fact: While moisture attracts bacteria, the Global Hygiene Council had finally revealed that one should wash his/her hands over six times daily. If it is hard to keep track, just remember washing hands before meals and after visiting the toilet.

Also, watch out for signs of excessive hand wash. If you are particular about cleanliness and fear dirt/germs, your concerns can manifest into obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), which is a type of anxiety disorder.

Fact: While moisture attracts bacteria, the Global Hygiene Council had finally revealed that one should wash his/her hands over six times daily. If it is hard to keep track, just remember washing han..

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Fact: It's not just your home toilet. Your kitchen holds six of 10 spots for germiest areas at home. Scientists say kitchen cloth/sponge, kitchen sinks, toothbrush holders, bowls of pets, coffee maker, faucet handles, toys of your pets, kitchen counters, knobs of the stove, and vegetable chopping boards are some of the dirtiest spots at home.

Also, avoid touching your eyes, nose or food after coming in contact with these surfaces.

(Inputs from www.cdc.gov & www.aurorahealthcare.org)

Fact: It's not just your home toilet. Your kitchen holds six of 10 spots for germiest areas at home. Scientists say kitchen cloth/sponge, kitchen sinks, toothbrush holders, bowls of pets, coffee make..

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