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Handwashing: Are We Doing It Right?
We wash our hands every day. But are we doing it well enough to prevent infections?
Our hands constantly touch surfaces, objects and other people. Along the way, they can pick up germs that enter our bodies when we touch our eyes, nose or mouth—or contaminate the food we eat.
Washing with soap and running water is one of the simplest ways to prevent the spread of infections.
Soap helps loosen dirt, oils and germs from our skin, while rubbing and rinsing help wash them away. But a quick rinse under the tap is not enough.
The CDC recommends scrubbing your hands for at least 20 seconds, while WHO emphasises thorough cleaning of all hand surfaces. Rub your palms, the backs of your hands, between your fingers, thumbs, fingertips and around your nails. Rinse thoroughly and dry with a clean towel or air dryer.
Handwashing is especially important before preparing or eating food, after using the toilet, after coughing or sneezing, and when caring for someone who is ill.
When soap and water are unavailable, a hand sanitiser containing at least 60% alcohol is a useful alternative. However, soap and water are preferred when hands are visibly dirty and are particularly important for preventing certain infections, such as norovirus.
Good hand hygiene is not about washing more often than necessary. It is about washing properly, at the right moments.
Sources: World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) hand hygiene recommendations.
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