These Hand Washing Facts Will Open Your Eyes

Don't forget inbetween your fingers! 

Hand washing is a 'do it yourself' vaccine when done correctly.

Proper hand hygiene reduces the risk of spread of infectious diseases. You will hardly get sick if you wash your hands regularly and properly.

Diseases that can be prevented by proper hand washing include dysentery, cholera, SARS, typhoid fever, Influenza, hepatitis A and diarrhea.

The format to proper hand washing is wet-lather-scrub-rinse-dry.

Here are things you probably don't know about hand washing.

Hand washing helps battle the rise in antibiotic resistance

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, antibiotics are often prescribed unnecessarily for diarrhea related sicknesses and respiratory infections that hand washing can prevent.

Reducing the amount of infections by washing hands frequently helps prevent the overuse of antibiotics- the single most important factor leading to antibiotic resistance around the world.

The most critical times for hand washing are before preparing food and after using the toilet. 

A large percent of women do not wash their hands before touching food stuff. 

Human excreta is an important source of germs.

The most effective tools for hand washing is soap and clean running water. 

Anti-bacterial soaps are as effective as plain soaps. Hand sanitizer can be used when soap and water is not available. 

Hand sanitizers have limits. 

Hand sanitizers do not kill all the germs, might not remove harmful chemicals and can not easily wash off grease and oils. 

Take plenty of Time. The more the better

The CDC recommends that you scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds for maximum effect.

Hum the 'happy birthday' song twice from beginning to end if you need a timer . 

You need to look for the dirt

Pay the most attention to the back of your hands, finger tips, finger nails and in between fingers.

Do not concentrate on your palms alone. 

Dry your hands 

Wet hands can easily pick up and spread germs. Use a clean dry towel to dry your hands. 

October 15th is global hand-washing day

Hand washing is important for everyone.

Global hand washing day is an opportunity to evaluate how people wash their hands in every country and create awareness on the benefits of proper hand washing with soap and clean water.

Do you take hand washing seriously?
Tell us about your hand washing routine in the comments section below!