Hand Washing Essay

Hand washing is simple, easy, and quick. It prevents the spread of bacteria, especially the spread of diarrheal illness. Washing hands with the use of soap and water before and after any activities (e.g. preparing food, eating, cleaning, treating, using toilet, blowing nose, cough, or sneezing, touching garbage, etc.) is the best prevention a person can do to stay healthy, not only for himself/herself, but also to other people around them. When people wash their hands using soap and water, they are removing germs. Germs that can get people sick. Hand washing is very simple but hard to individuals and community if they are not driven. It is recommended by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to clean hands, protect people,

These are the steps to properly washing hands. First, wet hands using clean and running water, either warm or cold water. Turn off faucet/tap and apply soap. Then, lather hands. Rub both hands together with soap, making sure the back of your hands is also lathered and between your fingers and under nails. Then, scrub both hands for a minimum of 20 seconds. Rinse hands under clean and running water. Last, air-dry hands or use clean cloth or paper towel.

What if soap and water is not available? With the use of hand sanitizer if hands are not visibly soiled or not contaminated with blood are effective. It kills germs most of the time because it contains alcohol. Although, hand sanitizers are an option, it will not eliminate all types of germs and bacteria. There are many hand washing studies conducted around the world. The purpose of every study is to determine if hand washing with the use of soap and water prevents the spread of diarrheal illness, especially in the children and adult daycare centers, schools, or

This was drew on three systematic reviews, two of them for the Cochrane Collaboration, focused on the effect of hand washing with soap on diarrhea, of water quality improvement and of excrete disposal, respectively. The risk reduction in this specific study was a reduction of 48%, 17%, and 36% respectively in reduction of diarrhea. They recognize that water, hygiene, and sanitation have important benefits to people’s health. It does not only prevent the spread of diarrhea, but also prevents other types of illnesses contracted through direct contact (Cairncros, Hunt, Boisson, Bostoen, Curtis, Fung, & Schmidt,