Washing hands effectively removes germs, preventing you from getting sick and stopping the spread of infections to others.
Our hands come into contact with countless surfaces and people throughout the day. This contact can lead to hands becoming contaminated with various microorganisms, including bacteria and viruses. These contaminants are often invisible but can be easily transferred.
The Science Behind Clean Hands
The primary mechanism by which handwashing prevents illness is by physically removing or inactivating these harmful germs from the skin. Using soap and water creates a lather that lifts dirt, oils, and microbes from the skin surface. Rinsing with water then washes them away. Hand sanitizers containing at least 60% alcohol can also kill many types of germs when soap and water are not available.
Preventing Illness in Yourself
Contaminated hands are a major pathway for germs to enter your body. We frequently touch our face – our eyes, nose, and mouth – without even realizing it. If your hands are carrying germs, touching your face provides these microbes with a direct route into your system, potentially leading to infection. By washing your hands, you break this chain of transmission, significantly reducing your risk of self-infection.
Preventing Spread to Others
The reference highlights that a number of infectious diseases can be spread from one person to another by contaminated hands. When you have germs on your hands, you can transfer them to others directly through touch (like shaking hands) or indirectly by touching surfaces (doorknobs, phones, counters). Anyone else who touches these contaminated surfaces can then pick up the germs.
According to the provided reference, diseases spread this way include:
- Gastrointestinal infections: Such as salmonellosis.
- Respiratory infections: Including influenza, colds, and coronavirus (COVID-19).
By washing your hands regularly, you clean off these germs, preventing their transfer to surfaces or other individuals, thus protecting those around you. Handwashing helps prevent the spread of infectious diseases by interrupting this common transmission route.
Key Benefits of Handwashing
Regular and proper handwashing offers significant benefits for individual and public health.
- Reduces the risk of respiratory infections: Fewer colds, flu, and COVID-19 cases.
- Decreases the incidence of diarrheal diseases: Many gut infections are spread via the fecal-oral route, often involving contaminated hands.
- Protects vulnerable populations: Helps shield infants, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems from infection.
- Reduces antibiotic resistance: By preventing infections in the first place, the need for antibiotics decreases, slowing the development of resistant bacteria.
When to Wash Your Hands
To effectively prevent the spread of germs, it's crucial to wash your hands at key times:
- Before:
- Eating
- Preparing food
- Touching your face (eyes, nose, mouth)
- Caring for someone who is sick
- Treating a cut or wound
- After:
- Using the toilet
- Changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet
- Touching an animal, animal feed, or animal waste
- Handling pet food or pet treats
- Touching garbage
- Blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
- Caring for someone who is sick
- Treating a cut or wound
- Touching frequently used surfaces outside your home (e.g., door handles, shopping carts)
Washing your hands is a simple yet powerful action that protects your health and the health of those around you by removing the very agents that cause illness and facilitating their spread.
| Action | Prevents Illness In You? | Prevents Spread To Others? | Mechanism |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washing Hands | Yes | Yes | Removes/inactivates germs |
