Your hand comes in contact with more surfaces or elements than any other part of your body. But how does regular hand washing protect your family? Everyone knows that the simplest way of washing hands is through soap and water and yet it is very important to know how this process can really help protect you and your family from different ill causing germs.
Babies
If you are having a baby or a young infant, then it becomes necessary to practice good hand hygiene. Babies are especially susceptible to every type of illness because their immune system is not yet matured when compared to adults. So, follow these basic etiquettes of hand hygiene:
Washing your hands with lukewarm water and soap before picking up your baby. Also providing the right awareness about hand hygiene to the rest of your family members or visitors should be followed. This way you can protect your baby from potentially harmful germs.
Carry a bottle of hand sanitizer with you wherever you go. This way, whenever you are out, you can quickly sanitize your hands even if there are no taps available to use.
Maintain hand hygiene during the following situations:
- Before picking up the baby.
- Always before feeding your baby.
- Also, before and after changing your baby’s diaper.
Kids/Children
Children may not be vulnerable as babies, but yes, they are also susceptible to certain illnesses, such as influenza and diarrhoea. This is because kids’ immune systems are still building and are getting exposed to a lot of different viruses.
Illnesses can spread quickly, especially when your kid or children are in close contact with their friends or other gatherings at school or nursery, or even get in contact with any contaminated surface. Hence, it is advisable to regularly wash their hands with soap and water, or with a sanitizer that significantly reduces the rate of sickness, and protects your children from illness.
Set an example to your kids, by teaching them about the good practices of hand hygiene right from a young age.
You should always teach your children to wash their hands:
- Right before eating (at home and school)
- Before and after playing outside
- After using the washroom
- Immediately after coming home from school
Mother & Father
Mother and father represent the ‘Caregivers’ of a house. So, they need to have clean hands and look after their younger ones. Parents carry a lot of responsibilities on their shoulders, apart from keeping their home neat and clean, preparing food and looking after their children. Hence, for all of these things, parents have to keep their hands clean and tidy. So, the easiest way to handle your responsibilities is by washing your hands as often as possible with soap and water or sanitizer and prevent the spread of unwanted germs.
So, dear parents, remember when to wash your hands:
- After handling any raw food
- Before you start preparing the food
- Before and after carrying children who are not healthy
- After doing any household chores such as cleaning the kitchen or emptying the garbage.
Some of the Correct Hand-Washing Techniques
To ensure that your hands are safe and clean and to protect them from illness-causing germs, guide your family to follow some of the correct hand washing techniques, such as:
- Wet your hands with warm running water.
- Apply sanitizer and rub your palms together.
- Rub your fingers and the bits in between.
- Rub on the nails of your palms.
- Rub the back of each of your hands.
- Rinse with clean running water.
- Then, dry your hands with a clean towel.
Finally, there you have it. By simply washing your hands with a sanitizer you can protect yourself and your family from getting infected and becoming unwell.
Few sanitizers effectively kill germs without soap and water. One of the best sanitizers which effectively kills 99.9% of germs is Smyle Clinhand-H Sanitizer, which is a WHO-recommended liquid formulation with 80% alcohol content to protect you and your loved ones.