For some of us, the hygiene lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic apparently have not sunk in with too many Americans still not doing their due diligence when it comes to washing their hands.
About 80% of infectious diseases are spread by dirty hands.
National Foundation for Infectious Diseases
That’s according to a new survey released on May 5, World Hand Hygiene Day, that found nearly half of its respondents forget or choose not to wash their hands at key times, such as after visiting grocery stores, restaurants, coffee shops and health care settings including a doctor’s office or hospital.
The survey is part of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases’ Hands in for Handwashing Campaign, which raises awareness of the importance of handwashing to help stop the spread of infectious diseases.
Handwashing can make a big difference. “Since about 80% of infectious diseases are spread by dirty hands, routine, proper handwashing throughout the year can significantly help prevent the spread of infectious diseases,” according to the report.
The habit can also prevent 1 in 3 people from getting diarrhea and 1 in 5 people from developing a respiratory illness, Dr. Vincent Hill, adjunct associate professor of environmental health at Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health in Atlanta, told CNN in 2020.
Handwashing and Bathroom Visits
And if you’re one of those people who doesn’t wash their hands after using the restroom because they “only went pee,” Hopkins urged people to remember that in public restrooms especially, there are at least millions of bacteria on every surface you’re touching, from the many people going in and out of that bathroom all day. Even if your urine is sterile, it doesn’t mean everything else is.
That might be why the study found men were more likely than women to not wash their hands at important times and to think handwashing requires less time.
Varied Handwashing Habits
Sixty-two percent of participants correctly answered that washing hands with soap and water for 20 seconds is the method that most effectively reduces the spread of germs, while 13% thought less time would be enough and 24% believed more time is needed.
The top three situations that prompted respondents to wash their hands were using the bathroom, handling food and handling human or animal waste.
“This is good news, given that a single gram of human feces can contain 1 trillion germs — including Salmonella, E. coli, and norovirus — that can cause disease,” the report stated.
But only 30% of participants said they were most likely to wash their hands after sneezing or coughing, “which is concerning given how easily respiratory diseases such as influenza … can spread,” the report added.
Adults older than 60 were most diligent in their handwashing habits, with 74% doing so after using the bathroom or handling food. The greater likelihood in this age group may be due to awareness of the fact that older adults have a higher risk of getting sick, according to the report.
“Older folks, we didn’t have hand sanitizers when we were younger,” said Dr. Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association, who wasn’t involved in the research. . “When I went outside to play, when I came back in, I was supposed to wash my hands. So I think that you’re looking at behaviors that may have changed from a generation to another generation.”
The Use of Sanitizer
Hand sanitizer is great to have when you absolutely can’t wash your hands, but you shouldn’t depend on it, given its inability to kill certain bacteria or viruses such as C. diff and norovirus, Hopkins said.
If you’re worried about your hands being too dry after washing or sanitizing, you can carry a small bottle of lotion in your bag or car, experts said. Applying lotion when your hands are still slightly damp helps your skin lock in moisture.
How to Properly Wash Your Hands
Scrubbing for at least 20 seconds, using proper technique, gets rid of germs that can make you sick. The first step is wetting your hands to help the soap work better.
You should wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and running water. Research shows most people don’t wash their hands long enough for handwashing to be fully effective.
That’s about enough time to quietly hum the “happy birthday” song twice.
Try humming the birthday song for a while to help develop a habit. The more you time yourself, the more you’ll get used to lathering up for 20 seconds. And soon, it’ll become a habit.
What are the handwashing steps?
Here are steps you should follow, provided by the Cleveland Clinic.
Wet your hands. Use clean, running water (warm or cold). Then, turn off the faucet to save water.
Apply soap. Lather up and rub your hands together for at least 20 seconds. Don’t forget to wash your wrists, the back of each hand, the spaces between your fingers and under your fingernails. This part is so important. The friction of rubbing your hands together helps get your hands clean.
Rinse your hands. Turn the tap back on and rinse your hands under running water. Make sure all the soap is gone. A thorough rinse removes all the germs, chemicals and dirt from your hands.
Turn off the faucet. Use your elbow or a paper towel. This can prevent more germs from latching onto your now-clean hands.
Dry your hands. Use a clean paper towel or hand towel to thoroughly dry your hands. It’s tempting to just shake out your hands and let them air dry. But research shows that it’s easier for germs to spread on wet hands versus dry ones. So, get your hands nice and dry to help them stay cleaner for longer.