HAND HYGIENE

 
HAND HYGIENE:
           
                      Many people don't know that simple hand washing can prevent a wide no. of infectious diseases( for ex. common cold or flu).
                      Simple hand washing techniques, i,e. washing the hands correctly or usage of a alcohol based hand rub will not only keep you healthy but also prevents the spread of infection to others.

When should you wash your hands?

• Before, during, and after preparing food
• Before eating food
• Before and after caring for someone who is sick
• Before and after treating a cut or wound
• After using the toilet
• After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet
• After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
• After touching an animal, animal feed, or animal waste
• After touching garbage

WHY HAND WASHING IMPORTANT?

           Good hand washing is the first line of prevention for many no. of infectious diseases, commonly known to us are influenza, common cold, meningitis, the flu, hepatitis A or hepatitis E, enteric fevers  like thyphoid, and many types of diarrhea. Hand washing technique should be taught to children especially as they are the most vulnerable group of community for diarrhea, leading to malnutrition in children. Second group of individuals at high risk of infections(immuno-compromised individuals) are to be strictly instructed towards right hand washing techniques to prevent opportunistic infections.

What is the right way to wash your hands?

• Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap.
• Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Be sure to lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
• Scrub 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 clean, running water.
• Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.

 Detailed hand washing technique is shown in  the picture  above...
               
                        Washing hands with soap and water is the best way to reduce the number of microbes on them in most situations. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers can quickly reduce the number of microbes on hands in some situations, but sanitizers do not eliminate all types of germs.

FOR MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS:
                       
                        WHO has came up with this concept of " YOUR 5 MOMENTS FOR HAND HYGIENE", in order to en light about hospital acquired infections, drug resistant germs.

So health care workers take a look into this 5 moments for hand hygiene to save the world from increasing drug resistant germs and hospital acquired infections.