Why Is Hand Washing So Important?

Children don’t always listen when parents tell them to wash their hands before eating, after using the bathroom, or when they come inside from playing.

However, it is important that each one of us understands the need to keep our hands clean. The sooner your kids inculcate the same in their lifestyle, the better it is. It is the best and the most cost-effective way of preventing deadly communicable diseases such as diarrhea, typhoid, etc.

How Do Germs Spread?

Germs can spread many ways, including:

• Touching dirty hands
• Changing dirty diapers
• Through contaminated water and food
• Through droplets in the air released during a cough or sneeze
• on contaminated surfaces
• Through contact with a sick person’s body fluids
• People, especially children frequently touch their eyes, mouth, and nose without realizing it. Germs can travel from the hand and get into the body, which can make us sick.  Feces from people and pets spread germs like Salmonella, E. coli, and norovirus, which causes diarrhea and it can cause respiratory infections.
• Proper handwashing can protect you and others from a range of diseases.
• Liquid soap is better than bar soap, especially at work.
• Wash and dry your hands carefully

When Should We Wash our Hands?

• After using the toilet or changing nappies
• Before, during and after preparing food
• Between handling raw and cooked or ready-to-eat food
• Before eating
• After using a tissue or handkerchief
• Before and after attending to sick children or other family members.
• After smoking
• After handling rubbish or working in the garden
• After handling animals