Hand Washing - Warm Water & Soap!

Photo Courtesy of EnviroBlog.org

By Rahmat Dermawan Gulo

Did you know? We are carrying millions of microbes on our hands. We can pick up germs from objects such as doorknobs and stair railings which touch by other people who are not good hand washers. Most are harmless, but some can cause illness such cold, flu and diarrhea. We can spread this germ to other people or give them to our selves by touching our eyes, mouths, noses or cuts on our bodies.

So, what should we do to prevent this microbe cause a bad effect to us? Yes we can wash our hands properly using soap and running water, or alcohol-based gel. Please follow the procedure below:

1. Wet your hands with clean running water and apply soap. We can use warm water if available.

2. Rub hands together to make lather and scrub all surface.

3. Continue rubbing your hands for 10-20 seconds.

4. Rinse hands well under running water

5. Dry your hands using a paper towel or air dryer. If possible you can use your paper towel to turn off the faucet and open the door handle prior to disposing of it.

If soap and water are not available we can use alcohol-based gel to clean our hands. How to use alcohol-based gel to wash our hands?

1. Apply product to the palm of one hand

2. Rub hands together

3. Rub the product allover surfaces of hands and fingers until hands are dry.

Stop!!! Do not forget to wash your hands :

1. Before touching your face, mouth, nose and eyes

2. Before preparing or eating food

3. After going to bathroom

4. After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has gone to the bathroom

5. Before and after treating someone who is sick

6. After blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing

7. After handling garbage

9. Before and after treating a cut or wound

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Global Hand-Washing Day promoted worldwide

From EnviroBlog
By Jovana Ruzicic

Last couple of days, it's been all about the bottled water here at EWG. The same day we released our investigation, was the day the United Nations declared the Global Hand-Washing Day

The day, and the initiative to call 2008 International Year of Sanitation comes after the founding that over 80 per cent of all diseases in developing countries are attributable to unsafe drinking water, inadequate sanitation and poor hygiene.

The action for the Global Hand-Washing Day spread across five continents in 70 countries and had affected over 120 million children.

The message about the importance of pure water and the access to it is clear. But the message about the importance of using that clear water, with soap, when washing hands is what this day wants to promote. According to the promotional web site for the day:

"Handwashing with soap is the most effective and inexpensive way to prevent diarrheal and acute respiratory infections, which take the lives of millions of children in developing countries every year. Together, they are responsible for the majority of all child deaths. Yet, despite its lifesaving potential, handwashing with soap is seldom practiced and difficult to promote.

Of the approximately 120 million children born in the developing world each year, half will live in households without access to improved sanitation, at grave risk to their survival and development. Poor hygiene and lack of access to sanitation together contribute to about 88% of deaths from diarrhoeal diseases, accounting for 1.5 million diarrhoea-related under-five deaths each year. Children suffer disproportionately from diarrheal and respiratory diseases and deaths. But research shows that children - the segment of society so often the most energetic, enthusiastic, and open to new ideas - can also be powerful agents of behavioral change."

Nice action UN!