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Hand washing is one of the simplest and most effective measures to prevent the spread of infection, but many people do not take this habit seriously. Many diseases like cold, flu, diarrhoea, typhoid can spread not only through air but also through contaminated hands. Touching the mouth, nose, food or frequently touched surfaces increases the risk of infection. Hence good hand hygiene habit is considered as the first step to break the chain of infection.(Photo courtesy – istock)

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According to experts, washing hands with soap is more effective than washing hands with water alone. While water can remove visible dirt, soap helps remove viruses and bacteria by breaking down the outer fatty layer. This also includes viruses such as the flu and the coronavirus. Alcohol-based sanitizers can be helpful if soap and water are not available, but they are not a complete substitute for soap-water, especially if hands are visibly dirty.

Hand washing is especially important at certain times of the day. For example, hands must be washed before eating or preparing food, after using the toilet, after coughing or sneezing, after touching a sick person, handling waste or animals, and after touching frequently touched objects in public places.

The duration and proper method of hand washing is also often overlooked. Most people only wash their hands for a few seconds, but experts say you should rub your hands thoroughly for at least 20 seconds. The backs of the hands, between the fingers, joints, thumbs, fingertips and wrists are often not cleaned properly. Germs can also get stuck in the thumb or big fingernails.

It is equally important to dry hands properly, as wet hands spread germs more easily than dry hands. Damp towels used in the kitchen or bathroom can also be a source of infection. Dr. Dipesh Agrawal, Consultant Physician and Head of Critical Care Medicine, Saifee Hospital, Mumbaihas given detailed information about this.

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Educating children about hand hygiene is considered very important. According to research, good hand washing habits can significantly reduce school absenteeism due to diarrhea and respiratory illnesses. Also, it can help keep the elderly members of the household away from infection.