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Proper hand washing prevents infection, illness

  • Published
  • By Alicia Astorga
  • 59th Laboratory Squadron
LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Hand washing is easy to do and it's one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of many types of infection and illness in all settings, from your home and workplace to child care facilities and hospitals. Clean hands can stop germs from spreading from one person to another and throughout the entire community.

Proper hand washing can prevent diseases from spreading through fecal-oral transmissions, the most common of these diseases being salmonellosis and shigellosis. Diseases can also spread through indirect or direct respiratory secretions. Respiratory diseases may include influenza, streptococcus and the common cold.

The following scenarios illustrate circumstances where you can play a key role in preventing spread or contamination of bacteria or viruses.

You have properly washed your hands after you used the toilet. The person or persons who touched the bathroom door before you may or may not have washed their hands. Your best bet when leaving the rest room is to assume the door is dirty. Open the door with a clean paper towel or push the door with your elbow.

What do you do when you're eating and someone offers you a handshake? This is a good time to simply say "hello" and wave a hand or "fist bump or knuckle bump" or an elbow-to-elbow touch. Sure, it may seem awkward, but you are protecting yourself from bacteria and viruses that may be lurking in those hands.

You are at the doctor's office. The doctor comes in, greets you and proceeds to exam you. You know the doctor has just come from another room having treated another patient. Ask the doctor if he has washed his hands before he exams you.

Practice proper hand washing techniques. Hands should be washed with soap and warm running water for at least 15 seconds. That's about as long as it takes to sing "Happy Birthday" twice. Wash especially whenever you've touched things many people have handled. Wash after using ATM machines, handling money, using public phones, public keyboards, public rest rooms, stair rails and grocery carts.

Remember hand washing doesn't take much time or effort, but it offers great rewards in terms of preventing illness. Adopting this simple habit can play a major role in protecting your health.