Why Is Washing Your Hands Important?
Much is said about washing the hands, especially after using the restroom, before cooking and before eating. There are very good reasons for this. Washing the hands isn't just about washing off unsightly surface dirt. Rather, this simple act an important way to prevent many kinds of illnesses, some serious.
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Virus Transmission
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Most viruses do not usually live long outside the body. However, they do live long enough to be transmitted to a new host. If you don't wash your hands, especially during the flu season, this host could be you. Contracting a virus is unfortunately easy--one method is to touch a virus-contaminated surface (door handles, desks, and keyboards are examples of surfaces that may be contaminated) and then touch your face.
You may spread a harmful virus to a loved one this way as well--simply by shaking a person's hand, or wiping a child's face, you may be transmitting cold or flu if you have not washed your hands.
Food Poisoning
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It is easy to accidentally contaminate surfaces or foods if you do not wash your hands frequently during cooking--this includes making simple items, such as sandwiches.
Pathogens on the skin (salmonella, E. coli or staph are examples) can transfer to food. There are many ways this may occur. Meats such as raw hamburger and chicken sometimes are contaminated with E. coli or salmonella. Touching these and then touching other food items can create what is called cross-contamination.
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Bathroom Germs
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Bathrooms are typical places for picking up E. coli bacteria, fungus and other pathogens. Washing your hands after visiting a restroom is very important--these germs on your hands may be spread to anything you touch, including the food you eat.
Time Frame
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It is not sufficient to rinse your hands under water for a second, although this is better than nothing. According to the Mayo Clinic, you should scrub your hands for at least 15 to 20 seconds.
Considerations
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When you wash your hands, scrub them well everywhere, including in between the fingers and beneath the fingernails--a fingernail brush (or a toothbrush designated just for this) helps get fingernails clean.
Use only clean towels or a dryer to dry your hands--otherwise you may re-contaminate your hands with germs.
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