February 5, 2020

The Importance Of Handwashing

We have always heard this, wash your hands regularly. Much like washing the dishes (find the best dishwasher under 700 here), handwashing is as important in maintaining one’s health.

After visiting the toilet there are around 200 million bacteria on your hands. If you do not wash your hands, but then touch your mouth, nose or eyes with your hands, bacteria can enter the body through mucous membranes. These germs can cause an infection, such as cold and flu. Wash hands is, therefore, very important to prevent infections. This includes a cold and the flu.

Proper handwashing! What gets left on your hands when you don’t wash properly

Proper washing of the hands can considerably reduce this risk of infection, given that bacteria are removed from the hand. This also reduces the risk of cross-contamination and reduces the risk of sick leave. This improves the hygiene level. Throughout the day you come in contact with bacteria, viruses and other pathogens. Bacteria and viruses can be transferred from one hand to the other through the hands.

Lack of Handwashing Leads t0 80% of Infections

A flu virus spreads very quickly, including sneezing and coughing. Human hands are the perfect way for viruses and bacteria to spread. The bacteria then end up in the air and on other surfaces. The hands constantly touch objects that other people have also touched with their hands: the door handle, faucets, keyboards etc. Washing your hands regularly is the most important method to prevent the spread of a flu virus.

Interesting Research About Handwashing

The Journal of Environmental Health has published a study in which four thousand people were observed while visiting a public toilet. The figures from this study indicate that more attention should be paid to hand washing. 10 percent of the four thousand people did not wash their hands at all, while 33 percent of the people washed their hands without soap. The other people used the soap, but not long enough.

Interesting facts about handwashing

  • Bacteria have the ability to survive 48 hours on a surface.
  • 80% of the infections between people are caused by the hands and 47% of the diseases are easy to prevent if the hands are washed well.
  • The mouse of the computer contains an average of 10,000 organisms per cm2. A keyboard also contains an average of 10,000 organisms per cm2.
  • When a hand is contaminated with bacteria, this can be transferred to 5 new objects or 14 other people.
  • 30% of visitors to the toilet wash their hands with soap after visiting a toilet.
  • An employee in an office comes into contact with more than 10 million bacteria every day.
  • 90% of visitors to catering establishments consider a clean toilet more important than good service.
  • A hot air dryer causes an increase in bacteria instead of a decrease.

It is therefore wise to wash your hands regularly. Also due to the fact that a flu epidemic develops every year. Washing hands has, therefore, become even more important. It is therefore important to ensure a good solution in the workplace to wash hands for both staff and visitors. It is also important that schools and healthcare institutions pay a lot of attention to this.

You may also like...