Procedure for Washing Hands

You will be surprised to know that until mid-nineteenth century, people were not even aware that hand washing is very important. A Hungarian doctor Ignaz Philipp Semmelweis was the first person to discover that washing of hands prevent infections from spreading. While working in a women's clinic in Vienna, he observed that after dissection of dead bodies, medical students went for check-ups of pregnant women during childbirth without washing their hands. He believed that this ignorant act was responsible for the death of mothers after childbirth in many cases. Therefore, he instructed each one of the doctors and medical students to wash their hands using chlorinated solution prior to attending any women patients. This policy showed results within a short span of time and there was a significant drop in the death rate. Thus, we can see that how important the correct procedure for washing hands is.

How do our Hands Get Infected?

Since childhood we were taught by our parents and teachers to wash our hands before we eat. We also wash when our hands get dirty due to dirt and soil. Our hands also need thorough washing every time we use the bathroom. Those professionals whose work involves handling of money should wash their hands very frequently. It is strange, but true that money is a carrier several infections. These people should not even rub eyes without washing their hands after handling money. Those who are professional cleaners should wash their hands immediately after taking off their gloves. Their gloves are capable of keeping away most of the germs, but it is possible that some of them may have come in direct contact with the skin.

When we cough, sneeze or yawn, we cover our mouth with our hands to prevent spreading any harmful germs. For the very same reason, we should wash our hands after these activities. When you play with your pets, there are some germs on their body that get transmitted to your hands. Therefore, wash your hands clean after you have any physical contact with animals. Many hospitals make it compulsory to wash the hands before and after entering the premise. This is done to protect both you and the patients in the hospital from any kind of infections. Make a habit for the kids to wash their hands after returning from school or daycare.

Hand Washing Procedure

Washing hands with clean and warm running water is the most effective way of disinfecting the hands. Turn on the faucet and wet your hands with the wrists and the fingers turned to downward direction. Use ample amount of water to do this act. As a result, components like fats, proteins and oils that were present on your hands will be removed. Then, take adequate quantity of soap on the hands and rub the palms as well as the backside of the hands for 20 seconds so that a good lather is formed. Then, wash off with water. Wash the fingers, fingernails, the areas between the fingers, wrist, back of the palms in a manner such that no soap residues are left behind. Pat dry your hands using a paper towel or a clean towel. You can also use blow dryer for drying your hands. Now for turning off the faucet do not touch it directly. Take a dry and clean disposable paper towel for this. This will ensure that your hands are not re-infected.

Many people wash their hands using sanitizers. These are available in the form of gel, foam or liquid. Alcohol-based sanitizers are the best for use on hands. It is particularly good for those places where sufficient clean water for washing hands are not available. Take generous quantities of hand sanitizer on your palm so that both your hands become thoroughly wet. Rub it on both sides of your palms, fingers, nails until they become completely dry. It is a quick way of cleaning hands and does not require rinsing with water. Once the alcohol evaporates it is absolutely safe to touch eyes or mouth. Even children can use it.

Many severe infections like swine flu, bird flu can be prevented to a great extent from entering our body by proper hand washing. If you are following the procedure for washing hands carefully, the harmful germs cannot cause harm not only to you and also not to the people around you.