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Wash your hands.......... For better disease control

Dr Shehla Jadoon (Islamabad)

Importance
Health experts say washing your hands reduces the spread of viruses and other organisms that cause disease. This advice may sound simple. However, experts say a lot of people do not follow it. 

A recent study found that many Americans fail to wash their hands after using public toilets. About thirty percent of the people leftpublic restrooms without stopping to wash their hands. In the study, researchers asked one-thousand adults how often they washed their hands. The researchers observed almost eight-thousand people at public toilets in five major American cities. 
Results of the study were compared to a similar study done in Nineteen-Ninety-Six. 
More than ninety-five percent of Americans questioned said they always wash their hands after using public restrooms. 
However, the study found that only sixty-seven percent of them actually do so. The study also found that American men are less likely than women to wash their hands after using a public restroom. 

The American Society for Microbiology announced the findings. Judy Daly works for the group. She admits that hand washing may seem an unusual subject to study. But she says hand washing is a very serious issue. Experts say hand washing is the simplest and most effective way to reduce the spread of infectious diseases. Infections can spread by touching surfaces that have harmful organisms on them. Shaking hands with another person also can spread infection. Harmful bacteria may enter your body if you touch your mouth, nose or eyes. 

Among the most common infections spread by hand are colds, influenza, and throat and ear infections. In addition, millions of food poisoning cases each year are blamed on people who prepare food who do not wash their hands. More serious diseases like cholera and hepatitis are spread this way, too. Many patients in hospitals also get infections. Some die from them. The spread of infections often is blamed on health workers who do not wash their hands after treating patients. 

The American Society of Microbiology has launched a public information campaign to get more people to wash their hands. Experts say following the correct method is important. You should wash your hands with soap and hot water for at least fifteen seconds. 

7 Simple Tips for Washing Hands
1. Take off your watches and rings (and other jewelry). 
2. Wet your hands under warm, running water. 
3. Keep your hands lower than your elbows while rinsing them. 
4. Apply soap or antiseptic products. Wash and rub vigorously for 10 to 15 seconds. Use friction to scrub all surfaces of the hands. Pay particular attention to your fingernails and between fingers. 
5. Rinse well under a steady stream of warm water. 
6. Dry your hands thoroughly using a paper towel, single-use towel, or air dryer. 
7. Avoid recontamination of your hands on the sink. Turn off the faucet with the paper towel used to dry your hands. 

Washing Hands in Children
Ask parents or school-age staff and they're sure to agree that dealing with childhood illnesses is not fun, especially when they spread from one child to another. Recent medical studies have confirmed another fact that parents and school-age staff could have told you: Kids can spread infectious diseases to adults, too, and often the adults get even sicker than the kids do!

Although it is probably not possible to eliminate the spread of infectious diseases, two simple hygiene practices can dramatically reduce the spread of illness at home, school, and child care. Let's take a quick look at each.

1) Frequent handwashing is considered by most health professionals to be the single most effective way to cut down on the spread of infectious diseases. Proper and consistent handwashing greatly reduces the risk of spreading germs. 
Knowing when to wash hands is important, too. Obviously, you should wash your hands whenever they are dirty. In particular, both adults and children should wash before eating, after using the toilet, after being outdoors, after playing with pets, and after coughing, sneezing, or blowing their noses. In addition, adults need to wash their hands before preparing or serving food, after caring for a sick child, after cleaning up spills, and after other cleaning activities.

2) Careful, routine cleaning of surfaces and toys also greatly reduces the spread of germs. There are many excellent cleansers and disinfectants available for home and commercial use. Scrubbing surfaces and toys with soap and water is a good way to start, but in places where children are together in groups, regular use of a disinfectant or a disinfectant cleanser is safer. You can make a simple disinfectant by mixing one tablespoon of chlorine bleach to one quart of water. Or you can mix one-fourth cup of chlorine bleach to one gallon of water (recommended concentration of bleach may vary from state to state). The solution can be dispensed from a spray bottle and, of course, should be kept out of children's reach. Unfortunately, the solution loses its strength fairly quickly; it's best to mix it fresh every day.

What you clean with is also important. According to the Soap and Detergent Association, the best wipes for cleaning are disposable paper towels or other throw-aways. If you use sponges or nondisposable cleaning cloths, rinse them in clean water and let them dry thoroughly after each use. Wash sponges or cleaning cloths regularly with chlorine bleach in the wash water.

Good health is important to all of us. Making a routine practice of frequent handwashing and careful cleaning of surfaces and toys can go a long way toward preventing the spread of common illnesses and make all our homes, schools, and child care settings healthier places.

Food Safety & Washing Hands
When you think about food safety, what's the first thing that comes to mind? 
Hopefully your answer was "washing your hands often." Experts say more than 50% of foodborne illnesses at home can be prevented by washing your hands more often. 
So, before, during and after cooking, wash your hands often in warm, soapy water--especially after handling raw meat, poultry and seafood. Remember to wash countertops, appliances and utensils frequently to kill harmful bacteria. Utensils and cutting boards should be washed in the dishwasher or in hot soapy water between uses. And, replace dirty sponges and worn dishcloths frequently.


Washing Hands in Wudhu
1) When washing hands, is there any particular sequence. My friend keeps insisting that it should be right, right, right and then left, left, left. While I’m used to right,left right,left and right,left. 
2) While washing face, am I required to say “Ash hadu Alla Ilaha …”(2nd Kalima)? 

ANSWER
1. In Wudhu, the right hand should be washed thrice. Thereafter, the left hand thrice. 
2. Before commencing with the Wudhu, you should recite Bismillah and when you complete you should recite, ‘Ash-hadu anlaailaaha illallaah’.