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Home » Health » Prevent Infection : Proper Way to Wash your Hands

Prevent Infection : Proper Way to Wash your Hands

May 26, 2009 Paris B 11 Comments

When my grandma was hospitalized a few months ago, I found myself shuttling back and forth from the hospital almost every day. While at the hospital, and to avoid having so many people in one ward, I’d sometimes linger in the corridors reading the various signs around the hospital. One that caught my eye and which I’ve put into practice ever since was a diagram showing the proper way to wash your hands.

Proper way to wash hands

The proper way to wash hands

The proper way to wash your hands takes a little time but the effort is worthwhile.

  1. Run clean tap water over your palms and use hand soap.
  2. Lather well.
  3. Rub your hands vigorously for at least 15 seconds.
  4. Scrub your hands, fingers, palms and nails.
  5. Do not forget the back of your hands.
  6. Rinse with clean water until all soap is washed off.
  7. Dry hands with a clean dry towel or disposable towel.

Wash hands to prevent infections

Hands pick up a lot of dirt and bacteria. Just think of the many things you touch throughout the day. Then, your eye itches or you scratch your face or nose and those germs are transferred to you. This is the easiest way for influenza and the common cold to spread because the virus can remain inert on surfaces for a long time waiting to be picked up by the unwary.

Proper handwashing will ensure that your hands are clean, thereby reducing the possibility of your infecting yourself with any germs. You can also use the waterless hand sanitizers that contain alcohol. I use those when I travel because it may not always be convenient to find a tap and soap and they can get rid of minimal dirt and oil. Useful if you like to eat street food when you travel like I do 😉

When you should wash your hands

Do not develop an obsessive compulsive disorder or pathological fear of germs. The idea is to ensure that you wash your hands at the very least after using the toilet and before eating. You might be surprised at the number of people who do not do this! I have personally seen it myself at public toilets and I am appalled. Here is a list of situations when you should wash your hands as compiled from the Mayo Clinic.

Always wash your hands:

  • After using the toilet
  • After changing a diaper — wash the diaper-wearer’s hands, too
  • After touching animals or animal waste
  • Before and after preparing food, especially before and immediately after handling raw meat, poultry or fish
  • Before eating
  • After blowing your nose
  • After coughing or sneezing into your hands
  • Before and after treating wounds or cuts
  • Before and after touching a sick or injured person
  • After handling garbage
  • Before inserting or removing contact lenses
  • When using public restrooms, such as those in airports, train stations, bus stations and restaurants

With the current spread of the Influenza A (H1N1) and previously the “bird flu” or SARS it pays to wash your hands regularly especially if you have been out and about and do not know who you come into contact with.

Now, hands up who has been practicing good clean hand hygiene and washing your hands the proper way? 🙂

Stay beautiful… and healthy!

Paris B

11 Insightful comments ... Read or JOIN THE DISCUSSION

About Paris B

Paris B is a 40-something beauty and skincare enthusiast with a practical and very critical view of beauty products and the world of beauty. Her mission on My Women Stuff is to deliver clear, honest reviews and facilitate discussions about beauty trends and life, tempered with a healthy dose of humour. When not blogging about beauty or life beyond 40 find her talking about feeding dogs real, wholesome food. Connect with us on social media at Instagram.

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11 comments ... Read or JOIN THE DISCUSSION

  1. Fara Abdullah says

    May 26, 2009 at 9:28 am

    Agree with you. I always keep a bottle of waterless hand sanitizers with me – it’s really helpful.

    p/s Paris, I think I saw you (and your drawing) in the NONA TV3 programme at the Lancome function recently 🙂

    Reply
    • ParisB says

      May 26, 2009 at 9:54 am

      Hi Fara

      Thank you for the heads up! I ran over to check out Nona on the TV3 site LOL… Yep its me teehee…

      Reply
  2. prettybeautiful says

    May 26, 2009 at 10:10 am

    wow! u r on tv3 site? i dont carry a hand sanitizer around but i do wash hands many times a day, till my hands feel so so dry! no lotions can help now

    Reply
    • ParisB says

      May 26, 2009 at 1:54 pm

      Hi prettybeautiful

      I don’t carry hand sanitizers unless I travel and yeah I was surprised at the TV thing too LOL… just a fleeting glance tho

      Reply
  3. Nikki says

    May 26, 2009 at 12:40 pm

    gosh, I am too lazy to wash my hands correctly! thanks for the reminder PB

    Reply
    • ParisB says

      May 26, 2009 at 1:55 pm

      Hi Nikki

      I wash my hands correctly maybe twice a day but at least I make sure to wash my hands after using the toilet and before eating 🙂

      Reply
  4. Ms. Blacklace says

    May 26, 2009 at 2:35 pm

    I am a firm advocate of proper handwashing! Most importantly, after using the toilet!

    I work at a diners, and all of our staff are used to washing our hands after using the toilet and sanitizing our hands every 20 minutes [using the alcoholic table sanitizing spray]. However, the customers do not have the habit!! i caught one of them leaving the toilet without washing her hands. So disgusting!

    Reply
    • ParisB says

      May 26, 2009 at 5:17 pm

      Hey Ms. Blacklace

      Yeah I’ve seen it too and I can’t help thinking “Oh my! They’re going to EAT with those hands?!”

      Reply
  5. Digie says

    May 26, 2009 at 10:24 pm

    I thnk effective hand washing is very important! especially during the times like these where H1N1 is the main topic. If you cannot wash your hands with water it’s good that you carry any of the alcohol based hand sanitizers nowadays which contains “moisturizer” and it is quite “skinfriendly”. That’s what they use in the hospitals also.

    Reply
  6. Tine says

    May 29, 2009 at 10:11 am

    I certainly have been practising better hygiene when it comes to washing of hands ever since the swine flu hit Victoria. I even carry antibacterial wipes and a bottle of sanitiser in my purse. Better to be safe than sorry 🙂

    Reply

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My Women Stuff by Paris B

Welcome to My Women Stuff, a beauty blog based in Malaysia, written by veteran blogger, Paris B. We now write for women of 40 and above because that's how old I am! What you can expect is honesty, critical views & a healthy dose of shared life lessons sprinkled amongst beauty product reviews. Settle in for a read. Read More about us

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