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Windsor-Essex County Public Health Enemy #1 - Germs on Your Hands
Hand washing is the single most important thing you can do to prevent the spread of infection or disease.
Consider the number of tasks you perform daily with your hands; preparing food, using the toilet, pumping gas and handling money.
Hands harbour germs both good and bad. It's the bad germs that cause the Health Unit to have concerns for the local population, since disease causing germs are so easily and quickly spread.
Some illnesses that are spread by unwashed hands are:
- E. coli also known as the "hamburger disease" is commonly found in the intestines of humans and animals.
- Hepatitis A is transferred via the fecal oral route therefore eating or drinking contaminated food or water can cause illness.
- Influenza is a more severe than the common cold, which is caused by other respiratory viruses. Influenza typically has a sudden onset with headache, chills and cough followed rapidly by a fever, appetite loss, muscle aches, and tiredness.
So why aren't people washing their hands?- Insufficient supplies at the hand sink eg., No soap
- Lack of education
- Skin irritation by products
- Time constraints/understaffing in some instances
Hand washing is a sensible strategy to remove visible dirt and germs from the hands and it only takes a few seconds. If you could prevent yourself or family from becoming sick wouldn't you wash your hands more often!
Follow these simple steps and reduce your chances of getting an unwanted infection or disease.
Effective Handwashing
- Use warm running water & liquid soap
- Lather for at least 15 seconds
- Rinse hands with warm water
- Dry hands with paper towel
- Turn taps off using the paper towel