Why do we need to properly wash our hands?
Last October 15, we celebrated the global handwashing day that. Most people participated in this event in conjunction with the timely problem of the pandemic. To be honest, there are so many things that we just realize right now.
Sometimes, I want to think that humans in general don’t care until it happens. Important things such as handwashing are neglected until it is needed. So thanks to the pandemic, people started caring.
I am not saying that it is good that we are experiencing this horror, don’t get me wrong. What I am trying to say is that it taught us good things. I will take out the positive things that COVID-19 made us realize:
- the importance of time
- the importance of family
- taking care of our health
- hygiene practices
- being responsible
- the value of life
These are just some of the things that we learned over the span of months since the pandemic started. People all over the world the importance and value of something. In our own little way, we contribute in saving the world by starting to be mindful.
Handwashing might be one of the many little things that we do daily. Most people don’t realize its necessity and importance. But today, everyone is carrying a sanitizer with them and clean or washes their hands.
So what are the benefits of proper handwashing:
- Reduce the number of people who get sick with diarrhea by about 23–40%
- Reduce absenteeism due to gastrointestinal illness in schoolchildren by 29–57%
- Reduce diarrheal illness in people with weakened immune systems by about 58%
- Reduce respiratory illnesses, like colds, in the general population by about 16–21%
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
When do we need to wash our hands?
- Before, during, and after preparing food
- After using the toilet
- Before and after eating food
- After touching garbage
- Before and after treating a cut or wound
- After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet
- Before and after caring for someone at home who is sick with vomiting or diarrhea
- After blowing nose, coughing, or sneezing
These are just a few of the many reasons why someone needs to wash his or her hands. Washing or cleaning hands should be done using sanitizer that is 70% alcohol based or soap and water.
The entire world is suffering from the effects of the pandemic and by simply washing your hands, you help save lives including yours. Proper washing of hands should take 20 seconds. So I hope every one of us will value that 20 seconds that can help save a life.
The global handwashing day was celebrated for a day but I hope we embrace this campaign and be a good example. We should not just wash hands because of COVID-19, we should make it a habit that will be a part of our lives.
Help save the world by washing your hands.