Hand washing has a lot of benefits. It supports the statement prevention is better than cure. It is better to stop something bad from happening than it is to deal with it after it has happened.

Contaminated hands may spread a series of infectious diseases from one person to another. Washing your hands with soap regularly will help prevent the spread of the germs that cause these diseases like bacteria and viruses. Germs are expelled into the air as tiny droplets, as people sneeze or cough. If these droplets get through the air or something you touch and then you touch your mouth, eyes or nose without removing the germs by washing your face, you take the infection with you.

When you wash your hands, you eliminate germs and reduce illnesses.

When should you wash your hands?

1. Before eating or before cooking

2. Before and after attending to sick children or other family members.

3. Before, during and after preparing food

4. After using the bathroom

5. After handling animals

6. After smoking

How to wash your hands properly

1. Remove any hand or arm jewelry

2. Wet hands with water

3. Apply soap and cover entire surfaces of your hand

4. Use soap and running water

5. Rub hands palm to palm

6. Wash the front and back of your hands, as well as between your fingers and under your nails

7. Washing should last for at least 20 seconds, preferably a minute.

8. Lather for 15 seconds

9. Rinse your hands well under warm running water

10. Wipe and dry your hands gently with a paper towel or clean towel.

11. Turn off the tap using the paper towel so that you do not recontaminate your hands.

The most effective thing you can do to protect yourself from a variety of infectious diseases, such as common cold, is to wash your hands properly and teach your children to do the same. With this, you get less time off of work or school and reduce medical bills. Washing your hands not only prevents you from getting sick, but it also reduces the risk of infecting others.