Lather up! It’s National Handwashing Awareness Week, a time to celebrate the simple act of washing your hands – a powerful tool in preventing the spread of germs and keeping ourselves and those around us healthy. This year, December 1st through 7th serve as a crucial reminder to prioritize this essential hygiene practice, especially during the cold and flu season.
The Power of a Simple Act:
Handwashing is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of infectious diseases like colds, flu, respiratory illnesses, and even foodborne illnesses. Here’s why:
- Our hands are germ magnets: Throughout the day, we touch countless surfaces teeming with germs. Washing our hands helps remove these germs before they can enter our bodies through our eyes, nose, or mouth.
- A barrier against illness: Proper handwashing helps create a barrier against germs, significantly reducing the risk of getting sick and spreading illnesses to others.
Washing Up the Right Way:
It’s not just about getting your hands wet. Here’s the proper handwashing technique recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
- Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold).
- Apply soap and lather your hands, including:
- Backs of your hands
- Between your fingers
- Under your nails
- Palms of your hands
- Scrub for at least 20 seconds. Hum the Happy Birthday song twice to ensure proper scrubbing time.
- Rinse your hands thoroughly under clean, running water.
- Dry your hands with a clean towel or air dryer.
Beyond the Basics:
While the basic handwashing technique is effective, here are some additional tips to remember:
- Wash your hands often: This includes before, during, and after preparing food, eating, using the restroom, blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing, touching animals, and visiting a sick person.
- Carry hand sanitizer: When soap and water aren’t readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
- Teach children proper handwashing techniques: Instilling good handwashing habits from a young age sets them up for a lifetime of healthy practices.
Making Handwashing a Habit:
National Handwashing Awareness Week is a great kickstart, but handwashing should be a year-round habit. Here are some ways to make it a regular part of your routine:
- Place handwashing reminders: Put up posters or signs in your bathrooms and kitchens as a visual cue.
- Make it fun for kids: Use colorful soap dispensers, sing songs while washing hands, or create a handwashing challenge.
- Lead by example: Wash your hands frequently and encourage others to do the same.
Together, We Can Make a Difference:
By promoting handwashing awareness and making it a consistent habit, we can create a healthier environment for ourselves and our communities. National Handwashing Awareness Week is a powerful reminder that even the simplest actions can have a significant impact.
So, lather up, wash away the germs, and celebrate the power of clean hands!
Do you have any creative handwashing tips or routines? Share them in the comments below!
Dr. Kre Johnson is a Board Certified Family Medicine Physician and the sole owner of Brownstone Healthcare and Aesthetics. She is the Medical Director of the City of Birmingham’s Employee Health Clinic-Brownstone BWell Birmingham. She is the Event Producer of Wifeology and the founder of Three Twenty Girls, Inc. She loves God, traveling, and all things Southern!!
Brownstone BWell: Brownstone Healthcare has partnered with the City of Birmingham to offer primary care services to the employees of the City of Birmingham for $0 copayment. This partnership is for preventative services & screenings and sick visits. We partner with your current primary care physician and our goal is to keep you out of the ER and urgent care. We do not share your information with the City of Birmingham. We uphold HIPPA and professional standards. You can visit us at our downtown location 1700 5th Ave N Birmingham, AL 35203 or Trussville: 4643 Camp Coleman Road #117 Trussville, AL 35173 205-202-5650 call for your appointment today.
