Today, World Handwashing Day is celebrated, a date stipulated in 2008 by WHO and the Pan American Health Organization, to raise public awareness about the importance of this simple gesture in protecting our health.
Unwashed hands can contain different types of disease-transmitting bacteria, hence it is essential to maintain good hygiene. From Babies and More we join the commemoration of this day, and we explain why it is so important to teach our children to wash their hands well since they are little.
The hands, main carriers of germs
The hands are the main way of transmission of germs, being able to cause gastrointestinal, respiratory and contact infections. According to the NGO Intermon Oxfam, thousands of people die each year in the world because of infections that could be prevented with proper hand hygiene.
Our hands touch tens and tens of daily surfaces contaminated with microbes (mobile phone, door handles, light keys, wc, public transport ...), which we then spread by touching our nose, mouth and eyes, or manipulating food or drinks.
In Babies and more Germs and more germs: where is the greatest danger?According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, people touch our eyes, nose and mouth an average of 25 times every hour without realizing it, so there are many diseases that we could transmit if the hygiene of our hands It is lacking.
Experts report that handwashing with soap and water would help reduce the incidence of diarrhea by 40%, and respiratory infections by up to 25% in children under five.If we put a name at diseases that could be avoided with proper hand washing would be those such as common flu, influenza A, colds, pneumonia, whooping cough, bronchiolitis, bronchitis, hepatitis A and E, gastroenteritis, gastritis, toxoplasmosis, hand-foot-mouth disease, intestinal worms, salmonellosis, eye infections ... and so up to 200 diseases , some very common in young children.
When should we wash our hands?
Despite the number of diseases that we can prevent in ourselves and others with proper hand hygiene, experts warn that This simple practice is not done as systematically or thoroughly as it should be.
Reasonable contact with bacteria and germs is normal and necessary to develop the immune system and defenses, but although handwashing should not become an obsession, it is essential to exercise caution at certain times, such as:
In Babies and more A little dirt in children could be beneficialBefore cooking or handling food, because their contamination can cause a wide range of diseases and outbreaks, many of which are especially dangerous for young children.
Before breastfeeding to a baby or make a bottle.
Before eating.
After going to the bathroom or change a baby's diaper (either in a public or private bathroom)
After contact with animals.
After coughing, sneezing, blowing your nose ...
Before touching a baby.
After smoking
After touching garbage.
After contact with land (for example, when arriving from playing in the park, after gardening) ...).
After handling chemicals for household cleaning.
After spending the day away from home, or touching things or public surfaces.
Young children should wash their hands with relative frequencyWell, it is common for them to bring their hands to their mouth, nose and eyes constantly.
How to wash your hands effectively?
But not worth any way to wash your hands when it comes to preventing health problems. In fact, a large percentage of people do not rub with soap and water long enough, do not wet their hands before applying soap, or do not dry them well once they are clean.
In Babies and more The importance of washing your hands wellTherefore, from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention they have prepared a video explaining step by step how to carry out proper hand hygiene.
First you have to wet your hands with clean water
Then, lather them and make foam, making sure that we also clean the back of the hands, between the fingers and under the nails
You have to scrub your hands for at least 40-60 seconds. For the children to assume that time, we can look for a children's song that they know well and that has that duration, so that while they sing it it is the time that they are facing their hands.
Then rinse your hands completely with clean water
Dry your hands very well, because when they are wet, bacteria are more easily transferred. We must also take into account that the towel with which we dry is clean and renewed frequently, as well as having one per person.
WHO has also developed a infographic explaining the process:
Remember the importance of instilling in our children this habit since they are very young, turning the time to wash their hands in a game. In addition, it is important to facilitate the task with stools or elevators that allow them to reach the sink, as well as easy-to-use soap dispensers.
If you catch us away from home and we do not have access to water and soap, we can use an alcohol-based solution, rubbing for at least 15 seconds, or until the product has been completely absorbed.
Photos | iStock
