I know you're all very busy getting prepped for the holidays and winter break, but I'm sure you are aware (because you marked your calendars) that it is Handwashing Awareness Week! (What.... you don't have a party planned to celebrate???)
Anyhoo....as you may or may not realized, washing your hands is the single best way to prevent illness. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), frequent hand washing has the potential to save more lives than any single vaccine or medical intervention. Yep, it's true. And amazingly, this miracle remedy resides right in your very own bathroom.
However, as simple as this may seem, studies have shown that very few people actually use soap when they wash their hands. Ick! This is especially important because the CDC also found that proper hand washing is one of the most effective and inexpensive ways to prevent diarrheal diseases and pneumonia, which cause more than 3.5 million deaths worldwide in children under the age of five every year.
So, do yourself a favor and review what your parents (hopefully) taught you back in Kindergarten. There is actually a right way to wash, if you want to get rid of germs. Flu season is upon us and I for one, don't like to take any chances. Besides, what's 20 seconds out of your life if it saves you a week or more of sniffles, coughs and a house full of miserable kids.
In case you need a little review, here's what the CDC considers the most effective method of washing:
- Wet your hands with clean running water (warm or cold) and apply soap.
- Rub your hands together to make a lather and scrub them well; be sure to scrub the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
- Continue rubbing your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the "Happy Birthday" song from beginning to end twice.
- Rinse your hands well under running water.
- Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry.
At least not for the wrong reasons!
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