World Hand Washing Day and this is the correct way to wash hands

Bumisuka.com – World Hand Washing Day and this is the correct way to wash hands. World Handwashing Day or Global Handwashing Day is observed every 15 October. This is a momentum to (re)raise awareness about the importance of washing hands.

The current COVID-19 pandemic reminds us how important it is to maintain hand hygiene. The habit of washing hands can not only break the chain of transmission of COVID-19, but can also prevent other infectious diseases. Therefore, the habit of washing hands still needs to be continued.

So, how do you wash your hands properly? Check out the information below!

1. Hands become a medium for germs to move

The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) launches, Salmonella, E. coli, and norovirus can cause diarrhea. These germs can be spread when using the toilet, changing diapers, or touching raw meat that has small amounts of animal waste in it.

Apart from feces, germs can also be on your hands when you touch contaminated objects. Objects can be contaminated when a sick person coughs or sneezes while covering with the palms of their hands and touching a surface. If you don’t wash your hands, these germs can spread to other people, causing illness.

2. Washing hands can prevent disease transmission to others

On the page of the Sub-Directorate of Emerging Infectious Diseases, the Ministry of Health explained that hands are a medium for disease transmission, because hands are used to touch various objects that are not known to be clean. If the surface of the object was previously touched by other people who did not wash their hands after coughing, germs could be transferred.

Washing your hands with soap can remove germs on your hands. Making the habit of washing hands is the best way to protect yourself and your family from disease.

3. Washing hands with soap is more effective than just using water

Rinsing your hands with water is better than not washing your hands at all. However, hand washing using soap and running water is recommended, because it is more effective in removing dirt and germs on the hands.

As explained by the Global Handwashing Partnership, a study in Bangladesh examined the effectiveness between washing hands with soap and using only water. The result, although rinsing hands with water can help reduce the risk of diarrhea, but washing hands with soap and running water is much more effective.

The CDC also explains that hand washing with soap is more effective than just using water. This is because the surfactants in soap can remove dirt and microbes on the skin.

4. When should you wash your hands?

Maintaining hand hygiene is important for maintaining health. Many diseases can be spread to other people because they don’t wash their hands. The CDC recommends washing your hands when:

• Before, during, and after preparing food.
• Before and after eating.
• Before and after caring for someone who is sick.
• Before and after treating wounds.
• After using the toilet.
• After changing a diaper or cleaning a child who has used the toilet.
• After blowing your nose, sneezing and coughing.
• After touching animals, animal feed, or their droppings.
• After touching the trash.

5. How to wash hands according to WHO

Hand washing is the easiest and most effective way to prevent the spread of germs. However, this needs to be done in the right way to ensure all hand surfaces are completely clean. The order of how to wash hands according to the World Health Organization (WHO) is:

• Wet hands with running water, then rub the palms with soap alternately.
• Rub and rub the back of the hands alternately.
• Rub between the fingers.
• Clean the fingertips alternately with interlocking positions.
• Alternately rub and rotate thumbs.
• Clean the fingertips by placing them in the palms of the hands and rubbing them gently.
• Rinse your hands under running water and dry them with a dry towel or tissue.

Hand washing is the easiest and most effective way to prevent the spread of germs. By washing hands with soap and applying the hand washing steps above, the entire surface of the hands is completely clean.