Clean hands are vital to good health
Don’t get caught dirty-handed! Now that I have your attention, I’d like to talk about the importance of hand-washing in the prevention of the flu and upper respiratory infections.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), hand hygiene is the single most effective way to prevent the transmission of disease.
Yes, that’s right.
Hand-washing helps prevent colds and flu.
How does this work? Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose or mouth.
Why does this work? Soap acts to lift bacteria from the skin. The act of rubbing your hands together and rinsing off the soap is the key.
It is the scrubbing action that helps dislodge and remove the bacteria — and the bubbles created by the soap help lift the germs up, and then you can rinse them away.
Be sure to use hot water, not cold.
What is the most effective way to get the job done?
Use soap, running hot water and hum a 15-to-20-second song such as “Happy Birthday,” the “A, B, C” song or even “Yankee Doodle” while you wash.
Make sure you rinse your hands well. If you are in a public restroom, reach for a paper towel and use the towel to turn off the faucet.
What about hand sanitizers?
According to the CDC, they help.
They are a good supplement for hand hygiene — but they cannot replace hand- washing.
When your hands are visibly soiled, alcohol-based rubs are effective in reducing the number of germs on your skin.
Other things you can do to reduce the spread of colds and flu:
– Coughing into your sleeve, not into the air.
– Using tissues when you sneeze.
For your own health, get plenty of sleep, eat healthy foods and make sure you exercise.
Keeping your immune system in good shape helps ward off colds and flu.
So. don’t get caught dirty-handed.
Wash those hands, protect yourself from cold and flu to prevent the spread of illness to others – and have a healthy winter.
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Cathy Brady and Don Fretts are educators with the Penn State Cooperative Extension, an educational network that gives people access to the resources and expertise of Penn State University.
Penn State Cooperative Extension is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and state and county governments. Local extension educators and volunteers can be reached at fayettext@psu.edu or by phone at 724-438-0111.
For more information, check the state’s extension website at www.extension.psu.edu.