To stay fit and healthy, it is important to adopt good habits, the most important of which is hand washing. Throughout the day, our hands come into contact with many things that may contain germs that can cause illness. However, simply washing your hands kills these germs and this habit significantly reduces the risk of infection. Global Handwashing Day is celebrated every year on October 15 to create awareness about the benefits of handwashing and make it a daily habit. Let’s know about it…
How often should hands be washed?
There is no set rule for how many times you should wash your hands in an hour. It depends on where you are and what you are doing. Under normal circumstances, washing hands once every hour is sufficient. However, if you are in a hospital, kitchen, or highly contaminated area, you should increase the number of times you wash your hands and wash them as often as necessary.
How often should you wash your hands?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), hands should be washed thoroughly with soap or handwash for at least 20 seconds. It is also important to thoroughly clean between the fingers, under the nails and the back of the hands. This removes both germs and dust.
When should hands be washed?
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Experts believe that hands should be washed about 6 to 10 times a day. In particular:
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Before and after eating
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On returning home from abroad
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Before touching food or water
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After taking care of the children
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Extra caution is necessary with children, as they touch everything without thinking.
The dangers of excessive hand washing
Excessive hand washing can also be harmful. It can dry the skin, cause cracks, burns or rashes. So strike a balance – wash hands, but only as needed. Clean hands, healthy life, this is the main message of Global Handwashing Day.