When to Wash Your Hands?
The best and most effective way to protect yourself and others around you from a majority of communicable diseases is by washing your hands properly. This is especially relevant during current times when the threat of COVID-19 still looms persistently. It is important that you wash your hands properly with soap at key moments during your daily routine, for example before and after eating or preparing food, when interacting with someone who is sick, after using the toilet, as well as after coughing, sneezing, or wiping your nose.
The Official Handwashing Technique
The World Health Organization provides a comprehensive, pictorial guide on how you should properly wash your hands. The process should not take you any longer than it does to sing the ‘Happy Birthday’ song two times. Here are the detailed steps of the correct handwashing technique:
Step 0:
First of all, we will begin by wetting our hands under the tap with some clean water.
Step 1:
Next, use a bar or, ideally, a hands free dispenser to get some soap on your hands. Make sure you get enough to cover all the surfaces of your hands.
Step 2:
Start the washing process by rubbing your palms together. Take turns making circular motions with one palm over the other. This will also help to lather up the soap and create suds.
Step 3:
Once your palms are covered, use your left palm to rub the back or dorsum of your right hand and vice versa. Make sure to interlace your fingers together to clean all the nooks and crannies.
Step 4:
Now face your palms toward each other and interlock your fingers together. Make rocking motions to slide your fingers against each other and clean them thoroughly.
Step 5:
Next, we have to clean our fingertips. To do this, wrap your fingers around each other, the backs of your fingers placed against the palm of the opposite hand. Interlock them and rub the fingertips against the surface of the palm in a to and fro motion.
Step 6:
Now wrap your hands around the thumb of the opposite hand and make rotational movements to clean it up. Repeat the process for the other thumb as well.
Step 7:
Finally, clasp the fingers of one hand and rub them against your palm in circular motions to clean your nails. Copy the action for the other hand.
Step 8:
Now you can let the water run and wash away the soap from your hands.
Step 9:
Make sure to properly dry your hands either in the air or by wiping them with a clean towel.
Step 10:
Use your disposable towel to turn off your water faucet.
Step 11:
And voila! You have successfully and properly washed your hands using the correct handwashing technique.
When you Don’t Have Access to Soap and Water
In case you do not have access to soap and clean water or find yourself on the road, you can always turn to your trusted hand sanitiser. While it is less effective than washing your hands, it does a good job of reducing the number of germs on your hands significantly. Make sure to follow the proper application technique when using hand sanitiser as well.