Clean Hands = Clean You
By Nmami Agarwal 03-Dec 2021 Reading Time: 4 Mins
We have often heard all our lives to clean our hands properly but how many of us do it? Common respiratory viruses like influenza virus or coronavirus spread easily when droplets containing the virus get into your body through your eyes, nose, or throat. Very often, the virus can easily spread from one person to the next via hands just from a simple handshake. One of the most convenient, cheapest, and very important ways to prevent the spread of a virus is to wash your hands frequently with good soap and proper hygiene methods to protect yourself from various health hazards.
Let’s dig deep into how clean hands save your life!
Faeces from people or animals is an important source of the spread of germs like Salmonella, and norovirus that cause diarrhea, and it can even spread some respiratory infections like adenovirus and hand-foot-mouth disease. These germs can get onto the hands after people use the toilet but also in less obvious ways, like after handling raw meats too. Yes! Germs can also transfer to hands if people touch any contaminated object that has germs on it because someone sneezed or coughed on it or was touched by some other contaminated object. When these germs present on our hands and are not washed off well, they can be passed from one person to another and make many people sick in the long run.
Hand washing with soap removes germs from hands. This helps prevent infections because:
- People frequently touch their faces (eyes, nose, and mouth) without even realizing it. Germs can get into the body through these areas of our face and make us sick.
- When people prepare or consume food and drinks from unwashed hands, germs from can easily spread. Germs can even grow rapidly in some types of foods or drinks, under certain conditions, and make people sick too.
- Germs from unwashed hands can also be transferred to other objects, like doorknobs, handrails, tabletops, or toys, and then transferred to another person hands.
Now, you understand the importance of clean hands for a cleaner you and infection-free lives. Take necessary precautions while handling food, use the right soap or sanitizer while going out, always use a handkerchief while coughing or sneezing, maintain a reasonable distance from people who are sick, and do not be in a rush while washing your hands to avoid unwanted virus spread from your hands. Ensure keeping your hand clean as it helps prevent diarrhea and respiratory infections and may even help in preventing eye and skin infections as well.
Over to you:
Look for proper hand washing techniques keeping in mind necessary tips is one of the best ways to remove germs, avoid getting sick, and prevent the spread of germs to other people. Whether you are working, at home, travelling out, find out best the means of hand washing with soap and water, so that it can protect you and your family.