Heads up everyone! October 15th is Global Handwashing Day, a day dedicated to increasing awareness about the importance of washing your hands. It is so important that we constantly wash our hands because hand washing saves lives and helps to prevent the spread of disease.
The theme for this years’ Global Hand Washing Day is “Hand Hygiene for All.” Senior Helpers encourages everyone to take part in advocating hand hygiene and actively washing our hands!
There are many ways you can become actively involved in Global Handwashing Day. Check out this website where you can find forums, fact sheets, The Handwashing Handbook, and more.
We are all living with the current pandemic known as COVID-19 and we can protect ourselves by wearing our masks and socially distancing when out of our homes, but another method in battling the virus is washing our hands! Handwashing with soap destroys the outer membrane of the virus, which inactivates it. One study found that regular handwashing with soap can reduce the likelihood of COVID-19 infection by 36%.
We all want to be as clean as possible especially with COVID-19 lurking, so here are some more interesting facts and tips on handwashing and how you can do your part on Global Handwashing Day!
- Think of your thumbs- people consistently forget to wash their thumbs- especially the outer sides!
- Don't forget your dominant hand- we tend to pay more attention to the non-dominant hand when washing, so take care to be just as thorough with the hand you use most- especially since it's the one that you use to touch your face and mouth most often!
- Friction is your friend! While soap and water is the gold standard, even more important is the lather you create. So work up a good handful of foamy froth as this is really what ensures microorganisms are removed from the skin, trapped and rinsed away.
Always wash your hands before:
- Preparing or eating food
- Treating wounds or caring for someone who is ill
- Inserting or removing contact lenses
- When you’re visiting someone in a hospital or facility, follow the “wash in, wash out” rule. Washing your hands on the way into the room ensures you don’t introduce a new illness to the person you’re visiting. Washing your hands on the way out ensures you don’t bring any new germs home with you.
Always wash your hands after:
- Preparing food
- Using the toilet, changing a diaper or cleaning up after someone who has used the toilet
- Blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing
- Treating wounds or caring for someone who is ill
- Touching your face or mouth
- Handling garbage
- Handling pet food or treats
- Also, wash your hands when they are visibly dirty.
We can't always avoid coming into contact with people who aren't feeling well, but proper hand hygiene is a great line of defense against picking up their germs and potentially bringing them home to our loved ones.
Senior Helpers offices across the country stand ready to provide you and your loved ones with the care you need, when you need it. Contact your local Senior Helpers today for assistance with activities of daily living, personal care, and transitions from hospital stay to home.