National Hand Washing Week

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By Nurse Diane

Last week I told you about National Influenza Week and the importance of getting your flu shot to prepare for the upcoming flu season.   I was explaining my research to a friend of mine whose daughter is pregnant.  Since she works in the public, I also explained the importance of good hand washing.  He told me that she did get a flu shot, but I explained that there are other bugs around that she could get too, and the best way to prevent acquiring other illnesses was to wash her hands.

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Did you know that:

• 2/3 of adults in the US wash hands after using the bathroom.
• 1 in 4 adults don’t wash hands after changing diapers.
• Less than 1/2 of Americans wash hands after cleaning up after pets.
• 1 in 3 wash hands after sneezing/coughing.
• Less than 1 in 5 wash hands after touching money.
• 1 in 3 E.coli occurrences is caused from not washing hands before handling food.       

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These statistics show that there is some kind of germ just waiting to jump on you.

Hand washing is important because:

• Children have weaker immune systems than adults and can become sick quicker.
• 1 in 3 E.coli outbreaks is caused by poor hand washing by food preparers.
• Germs that cause disease live in meat, vegetables, and more.
• Germs are spread from unclean hands to food, usually when the food handler doesn’t wash after going to the bathroom. Germs are then passed on to those who eat the food.
• Germs spread from uncooked foods like hamburger to the hands, then from the hands to other foods like salads. The germs can remain in the salads and eventually affect those who eat the food.
• Putting cooked meat back into its original container re-contaminates the cooked food. - Cutting vegetables on the same board used to cut meat contaminates the vegetables.
• Some main rules to follow when washing your hands include:
• Always wash your hands after using the bathroom, changing diapers, cleaning up after your pets, or handling money.
• Wash your hands when they’re dirty.
• Always wash your hands before eating.
• Don’t cough or sneeze into your hands.
• Refrain from putting your fingers in your eyes, nose, or mouth.

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Avoid touching people and surfaces with unclean hands. The proper way to wash your hands is:

• Wet hands with warm water (not hot) and use soap.
• Rub your hands together, making sure to scrub all areas.
• Rub for a minimum of 15 seconds or sing “Happy Birthday.”
• Rinse thoroughly, then dry hands on a clean towel.
• Turn faucet off with the towel, not hands, to keep away from recontamination.
• It also doesn’t hurt to use the towel to pull the door open, or either use your shirt or, slide your arm under the handle.

Always keep your hands clean, not only does it protect you, but others you may come in contact.

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National Hand Washing Awareness Week

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By Diane Forrest, RN

The very first thing they teach you in nursing school is how to wash your hands.  You may be thinking by the time you are in college you should have already learned this.  Well there is a certain technique to washing your hands at the hospital.  They even have special sinks that you operate with your leg or foot.  Hand washing it the first line of defense in preventing the spread of germs.  You have to turn on warm water, pump out the soap, vigorously rub your hands together up to your arms for at least a minute, then rinse with your hands pointed down so that the soapy water doesn’t run back up to your arms.  Then use a paper towel to dry, and another towel to turn off the sink.  You wash when you enter a room, and before leaving the room.

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Scrub nurses have an even more complicated technique.  They must wash for 3 minutes, from fingers to elbows, using a scrub brush.  Along with the brush there is a file to clean under the fingernails.  Gloves are applied immediately after washing and drying, sometimes sterile gloves, sometimes just "clean" gloves will do.

If you have been in a hospital lately you might see these cans fastened to the wall outside patient's rooms.   These cans contain a hand cleaning foam that don't require water, and it dries on your hands.  While some people may like this, I find that it dries the skin.  You want to make sure your hands are lubricated with lotion because drying will cause cracks in the skin and allow bacteria to move in.

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From the time a child is able to reach the sink, they should be taught how to wash their hands. Of course they should be helped with hand washing before they can do it on their own.  Hands should be washed after using the bathroom, before eating or preparing food, after playing and anytime during the day when the hands come in contact with unclean items.

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This week is National Hand washing Awareness Week.  Try to make a conscious effort to wash your hands during the day, and if you aren’t able to wash your hands, keep them out of your eyes and off of food before you are able to properly wash them, or carry little bottles of hand sanitizer with you.  And remember, one of the most important measures for preventing the spread of germs is effective hand washing.