By Mutalib Jibril
Hand washing, or hand hygiene, is the process of using soap and water or a specialized hand wash to eliminate viruses, bacteria, and other microorganisms from the hands.
Hand hygiene extends beyond personal health; it is a fundamental component of the larger public health framework. Recent times have shown us the significant repercussions of insufficient hand hygiene through the emergence of widespread epidemics and pandemics.
For example, the COVID-19 pandemic underscored how a virus can rapidly and severely affect society when people neglect proper hand hygiene practices.
Our hands, with the dual capacity to transmit and prevent diseases, symbolize our dedication to the health and welfare of our communities. The repercussions of unclean hands reach beyond individual discomfort, resonating across society and impacting economies, healthcare systems, and the overall quality of life.
Hand hygiene is often underestimated, yet it’s a cornerstone of our overall health and well-being.
Imagine this scenario: within a single day, your hands make contact with an abundance of surfaces and objects, each one potentially carrying microscopic hitchhikers. It’s a journey filled with handshakes, elevator buttons, and shared office spaces, where every touch presents an opportunity for a microbial adventure. What’s truly astonishing is that these hands, our primary means of interacting with the world, simultaneously serve as bridges of connection and vessels of contamination.
Times when it is imperative to wash our hands rigorously include: before and after handling food, after using the restroom, after coughing or sneezing, after touching animals, after handling trash, before and after caring for someone who is sick, before and after wound care.
Wet your hands with clean, running water
Begin by opening the faucet and letting fresh, running water flow over your hands. Wetting your hands is the initial step to eliminate dirt and create a foundation for the soap to function efficiently.
Apply soap to your hands
Apply an adequate amount of soap to your wet hands.Soap is critical as it aids in the breakdown and removal of dirt, oils, and germs from your skin.
Thoroughly rub your hands together, ensuring you cover all surfaces for a minimum of 20 seconds.
This is the crucial phase where effective cleaning occurs. Vigorously work the soap into all areas, including your palms, the back of your hands, the spaces between your fingers, and beneath your nails. The 20-second timeframe is significant as it provides ample time for a comprehensive cleaning process.
Rinse your hands under clean, running water
After scrubbing, rinse your hands under the running water to wash away the soap, along with any dirt and germs you’ve dislodged.
Dry your hands
Drying your hands is crucial because wet hands can transport germs more readily than dry ones. So, make sure your hands are completely dry, and afterward, be cautious not to touch surfaces that might be contaminated to preserve the cleanliness of your hands.
Use of hand sanitisers in place of soap and water
Hand sanitizers offer a practical substitute for soap and water when you can’t reach a sink or when these resources aren’t immediately accessible. They come in handy in scenarios requiring swift hand cleaning, like in healthcare environments, during travel, or in areas where water access is limited.
It’s worth emphasizing that although hand sanitizers are proficient at decreasing the presence of germs on your hands, they might not completely eradicate all types of germs, particularly those that exhibit more resistance, such as specific bacterial spores.
In numerous circumstances, hand sanitizers serve as a convenient and effective choice, but they should not serve as a complete replacement for the traditional practice of hand washing, particularly when your hands are visibly soiled or after specific activities like using the restroom. Washing your hands with soap and water remains the paramount method for comprehensive hand hygiene.
In a world where unseen dangers often come to the forefront, your hands serve as the first line of defense against illness. It’s imperative to acknowledge that the straightforward act of hand washing can yield substantial benefits for your personal health and the health of those around you.