ARTICLE
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Your Hands and Your HealthBy Pierre Mouchette | Real Property Experts LLC
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Few people nowadays think about basic hygiene such as hand washing. If they do it, they go through the motion of running some water over their hands, then off to the towel or hand dryer. Through this misconception, more and more ‘bugs’ are being spread with the result of ‘super bugs’ being created.
Hands are the most important tool that we have and are used continuously in everyday life. We use our hands to accomplish the smallest to the largest of tasks, and yes, the objects touched in these accomplishments are not sterile. These surfaces contain thousands of different organisms. Yes, organisms when presented with favorable conditions, for example the human organism can cause infectious diseases. Therefore, hands should be washed routinely, especially before eating, after returning from outdoors, and after using the toilet.
Infections You Can Spread by Not Washing Your Hands
Bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic diseases exist on the skin and in mucus, blood, and other body fluids. Some germs are transferred through inhalation and others are obtained by touch. The transfer of fecal-to-oral diseases occurs when an infected person does not use good hand-washing technique with soap and water and handles food content or any substance that enters the mouth. Washing hands after bathroom use can significantly reduce transmission of diseases and illness.
The most common diseases that can be caught, if hands are not thoroughly washed include: Cholera; Dysentery; Hepatitis A; Influenza; Salmonellosis; SARS; Typhoid Fever; Diseases caused by helminths.
How to Wash Your Hands
No, this is not a joke, and yes, we are going to give you the recommended procedure from The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC recommends cleaning hands in a specific way to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others. The guidance for effective handwashing with soap and water, and the use of a hand sanitizer was developed by the CDC based on data from several studies.
Handwashing
Washing hands with soap and water is the best way to reduce the number of microbes on them. But it is not enough to rinse your hands or wash them quickly. To fully remove the risk of infection, you should wash with warm running water and soap, scrubbing your hands for at least 20 seconds and up to a full minute. Scrub all surfaces of your hands, including wrists, between fingers, under your nails and over the back of your hands. In public situations - once you have cleaned your hands thoroughly, use a towel to open the door and leave the restroom immediately.
Note: If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
Sanitizers - many studies have found that sanitizers with an alcohol concentration between 60–95% are more effective at killing germs than those with a lower alcohol concentration or non-alcohol-based hand sanitizers. Non-alcohol-based hand sanitizers may:
When using a hand sanitizer, apply the product to the palm of one hand (read the label to learn the correct amount) and rub the product all over the surfaces of your hands until your hands are dry.
How to Use Sanitizers - the steps for hand sanitizer use are based on a simplified procedure recommended by the CDC. Instructing people to cover all surfaces of both hands with hand sanitizer has been found to provide similar disinfection effectiveness as providing detailed steps for rubbing-in hand sanitizer. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers can quickly reduce the number of microbes on hands in some situations, but sanitizers do not eliminate all types of germs.
Soap and water are more effective than hand sanitizers at removing or inactivating certain kinds of germs, like Cryptosporidium, norovirus, and Clostridium difficile.
Sanitizers Not Effective on Visibly Dirty or Greasy Hands - studies have shown that hand sanitizers work well where hands meet germs but are not heavily soiled or greasy. Handwashing with soap and water is recommended in all other circumstances.
Public Rest Rooms
Wash Your Hands Properly After Using the Rest Room
Keeping our hands clean is one of the most important steps that we can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others. Many diseases and conditions are spread by not washing hands with soap and clean running water.
How germs get onto hands and make people sick - feces (poop) from people or animals is a source of germs like Salmonella, E. coli and norovirus. It can also spread some respiratory infections like adenovirus and hand-foot-mouth disease. These kinds of germs can get on hands after people use the toilet or change a diaper, but also in less obvious ways, like after handling raw meats that have invisible amounts of animal poop on them.
DYK: A single gram of human feces, which is about the weight of a paper clip, can contain one trillion germs
Germs can also get onto hands if people touch any object that has germs on it because someone coughed or sneezed on it or was touched by some other contaminated object. When these germs get onto hands and are not washed off, they can be passed from person to person and make people sick.
Handwashing with soap removes germs from the hands, prevents illnesses, and the spread of infections to others. Additionally:
SICKNESS
Noroviruses – these are the most common cause of viral gastroenteritis (stomach flu) in humans. This is an inflammation of the stomach and intestines that is caused by a virus. Gastroenteritis can cause cramping, pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and many other discomforts. For small children, this can be dangerous, sometimes even deadly. The viruses that cause gastroenteritis may show up in contaminated food or water, and if you are infected, you will get sick within 4 to 48 hours.
This virus is transmitted when people do not wash their hands. Therefore, when one person gets ill, an entire household, school or office often catch it too.
Airborne illnesses - respiratory illnesses are usually spread via droplets which are breathed, sneezed, or coughed into the air by someone who has the illness. Sneezing and coughing can spread droplets as far as three feet, which means that many droplets land on nearby objects.
Nosocomial infections – people often comment on how they go into the hospital and catch something. These infections are often the result of staff and patients not washing their hands. Naturally, there are a massive number of infections present in hospitals and if the staff does not wash their hands between seeing patients, or if people with an infection are not practicing good hand hygiene, they can very easily pass their illness onto others.
Hand-Foot-Mouth Disease - Hand-foot-mouth disease, caused by the coxsackie virus and other enteroviruses, shows symptoms of blister-like bumps in the mouth, on the palms of the hands and bottoms of the feet. The virus spreads by ingesting food or drink contaminated with fecal content. Thorough washing of the hands following bathroom use is vital in preventing the spread of hand-foot-mouth disease. Since antibiotics are ineffective against viruses, treatment consists of comfort measures for fever and blisters.
Hepatitis A - a viral infection which can cause severe symptoms including problems with the liver, jaundice, abdominal pain, fever, and fatigue. Symptoms can include fatigue, yellowing of the skin, dark urine, nausea, and vomiting. This it is a contagious disease that can occur sporadically or in epidemic form, especially in poor sanitary and hygienic conditions, after floods or other natural disasters. It can also be spread via food which has been contaminated by people preparing it who have not washed their hands after using the bathroom.
MayoClinic.com reports that symptoms usually do not appear until a month after incurring the virus, and the symptoms last from less than two to six months.
Shigellosis - a bacterial infection with symptoms that include watery diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever. If the disease progresses to dysentery, the stool contains mucus, blood, and puss. Shigellosis spreads easily from one person to another by ingesting food contaminated by infected people who do not use adequate hand-washing technique with soap and water after using the bathroom.
Giardiasis - is a parasitic illness of the intestine with symptoms such as gas, cramping and diarrhea. Giardiasis spreads easily by drinking infected water from untreated sources or by hand-to-fecal contact.
Helminthiasis – in most cases fall into the human body from animals. Enough to pat pet and wash hands to parasites entered the body and caused various diseases. Most often, people become infected pinworms or ascarids. But in some cases, more serious parasitic infection. The main symptoms of helminthiasis are shown as well as intestinal infection - nausea, headache, gastrointestinal disorders function.
Hands are the most important tool that we have and are used continuously in everyday life. We use our hands to accomplish the smallest to the largest of tasks, and yes, the objects touched in these accomplishments are not sterile. These surfaces contain thousands of different organisms. Yes, organisms when presented with favorable conditions, for example the human organism can cause infectious diseases. Therefore, hands should be washed routinely, especially before eating, after returning from outdoors, and after using the toilet.
Infections You Can Spread by Not Washing Your Hands
Bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic diseases exist on the skin and in mucus, blood, and other body fluids. Some germs are transferred through inhalation and others are obtained by touch. The transfer of fecal-to-oral diseases occurs when an infected person does not use good hand-washing technique with soap and water and handles food content or any substance that enters the mouth. Washing hands after bathroom use can significantly reduce transmission of diseases and illness.
The most common diseases that can be caught, if hands are not thoroughly washed include: Cholera; Dysentery; Hepatitis A; Influenza; Salmonellosis; SARS; Typhoid Fever; Diseases caused by helminths.
How to Wash Your Hands
No, this is not a joke, and yes, we are going to give you the recommended procedure from The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC recommends cleaning hands in a specific way to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others. The guidance for effective handwashing with soap and water, and the use of a hand sanitizer was developed by the CDC based on data from several studies.
Handwashing
Washing hands with soap and water is the best way to reduce the number of microbes on them. But it is not enough to rinse your hands or wash them quickly. To fully remove the risk of infection, you should wash with warm running water and soap, scrubbing your hands for at least 20 seconds and up to a full minute. Scrub all surfaces of your hands, including wrists, between fingers, under your nails and over the back of your hands. In public situations - once you have cleaned your hands thoroughly, use a towel to open the door and leave the restroom immediately.
- According to the Clean Hands Coalition, some viruses and bacteria can live for up to two hours on a surface. Even if your hands are clean, if the person using the restroom before you were infected, they can leave behind their illness for you to catch.
Note: If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
Sanitizers - many studies have found that sanitizers with an alcohol concentration between 60–95% are more effective at killing germs than those with a lower alcohol concentration or non-alcohol-based hand sanitizers. Non-alcohol-based hand sanitizers may:
- Not work equally well for all classes of germs.
- Cause germs to develop resistance to the sanitizing.
- Merely reduce the growth of germs rather than kill them outright.
- Be more likely to irritate skin than alcohol-based hand sanitizers.
When using a hand sanitizer, apply the product to the palm of one hand (read the label to learn the correct amount) and rub the product all over the surfaces of your hands until your hands are dry.
How to Use Sanitizers - the steps for hand sanitizer use are based on a simplified procedure recommended by the CDC. Instructing people to cover all surfaces of both hands with hand sanitizer has been found to provide similar disinfection effectiveness as providing detailed steps for rubbing-in hand sanitizer. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers can quickly reduce the number of microbes on hands in some situations, but sanitizers do not eliminate all types of germs.
Soap and water are more effective than hand sanitizers at removing or inactivating certain kinds of germs, like Cryptosporidium, norovirus, and Clostridium difficile.
Sanitizers Not Effective on Visibly Dirty or Greasy Hands - studies have shown that hand sanitizers work well where hands meet germs but are not heavily soiled or greasy. Handwashing with soap and water is recommended in all other circumstances.
- Hand sanitizers will not remove harmful chemicals (pesticides; grease; heavy metals etc.).
Public Rest Rooms
Wash Your Hands Properly After Using the Rest Room
Keeping our hands clean is one of the most important steps that we can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others. Many diseases and conditions are spread by not washing hands with soap and clean running water.
How germs get onto hands and make people sick - feces (poop) from people or animals is a source of germs like Salmonella, E. coli and norovirus. It can also spread some respiratory infections like adenovirus and hand-foot-mouth disease. These kinds of germs can get on hands after people use the toilet or change a diaper, but also in less obvious ways, like after handling raw meats that have invisible amounts of animal poop on them.
DYK: A single gram of human feces, which is about the weight of a paper clip, can contain one trillion germs
Germs can also get onto hands if people touch any object that has germs on it because someone coughed or sneezed on it or was touched by some other contaminated object. When these germs get onto hands and are not washed off, they can be passed from person to person and make people sick.
Handwashing with soap removes germs from the hands, prevents illnesses, and the spread of infections to others. Additionally:
- People frequently touch their eyes, nose, and mouth without realizing it.
- Germs from unwashed hands can get into foods and drinks while people prepare or consume them.
- Germs from unwashed hands can be transferred to other objects, like handrails, tabletops, or toys, cell phones, TV remotes and then transferred to another person’s hands.
SICKNESS
Noroviruses – these are the most common cause of viral gastroenteritis (stomach flu) in humans. This is an inflammation of the stomach and intestines that is caused by a virus. Gastroenteritis can cause cramping, pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and many other discomforts. For small children, this can be dangerous, sometimes even deadly. The viruses that cause gastroenteritis may show up in contaminated food or water, and if you are infected, you will get sick within 4 to 48 hours.
This virus is transmitted when people do not wash their hands. Therefore, when one person gets ill, an entire household, school or office often catch it too.
- The best way to stop noroviruses from spreading or occurring in the first place is to wash your hands thoroughly after using the bathroom, before preparing food and to avoid touching your nose and mouth.
- Handwashing is especially important for school age children. Schools are often the centers of gastroenteritis breakouts. Every year, 52.2 million cases of the common cold infect Americans under age 17. The Clean Hands Coalition reports that only 50-percent of middle and high school students wash their hands after using the restroom.
Airborne illnesses - respiratory illnesses are usually spread via droplets which are breathed, sneezed, or coughed into the air by someone who has the illness. Sneezing and coughing can spread droplets as far as three feet, which means that many droplets land on nearby objects.
- Common respiratory illnesses that can be spread by poor hand washing include rhinoviruses such as the common cold and influenza. Chicken pox, meningitis and Group A and B streptococcal infections are also airborne illnesses.
Nosocomial infections – people often comment on how they go into the hospital and catch something. These infections are often the result of staff and patients not washing their hands. Naturally, there are a massive number of infections present in hospitals and if the staff does not wash their hands between seeing patients, or if people with an infection are not practicing good hand hygiene, they can very easily pass their illness onto others.
- Some difficult to eradicate types of nosocomial infections include methcillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), clostridium difficile (c diff) and Vancomycin resistant enterocci (VRE). Escherichia coli (E. coli) and pseudomonas are also commonly encountered nosocomial infections.
- Approximately 10 percent of hospital patients are infected with a nosocomial infection during their stay, reports Stephen Abedon, Ph.D. of the Ohio State University at Mansfield Department of Microbiology, and 20,000 people in the United States die from them each year.
Hand-Foot-Mouth Disease - Hand-foot-mouth disease, caused by the coxsackie virus and other enteroviruses, shows symptoms of blister-like bumps in the mouth, on the palms of the hands and bottoms of the feet. The virus spreads by ingesting food or drink contaminated with fecal content. Thorough washing of the hands following bathroom use is vital in preventing the spread of hand-foot-mouth disease. Since antibiotics are ineffective against viruses, treatment consists of comfort measures for fever and blisters.
Hepatitis A - a viral infection which can cause severe symptoms including problems with the liver, jaundice, abdominal pain, fever, and fatigue. Symptoms can include fatigue, yellowing of the skin, dark urine, nausea, and vomiting. This it is a contagious disease that can occur sporadically or in epidemic form, especially in poor sanitary and hygienic conditions, after floods or other natural disasters. It can also be spread via food which has been contaminated by people preparing it who have not washed their hands after using the bathroom.
MayoClinic.com reports that symptoms usually do not appear until a month after incurring the virus, and the symptoms last from less than two to six months.
- FYI: Even microscopic traces of fecal matter can cause transmission of the disease.
Shigellosis - a bacterial infection with symptoms that include watery diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever. If the disease progresses to dysentery, the stool contains mucus, blood, and puss. Shigellosis spreads easily from one person to another by ingesting food contaminated by infected people who do not use adequate hand-washing technique with soap and water after using the bathroom.
Giardiasis - is a parasitic illness of the intestine with symptoms such as gas, cramping and diarrhea. Giardiasis spreads easily by drinking infected water from untreated sources or by hand-to-fecal contact.
Helminthiasis – in most cases fall into the human body from animals. Enough to pat pet and wash hands to parasites entered the body and caused various diseases. Most often, people become infected pinworms or ascarids. But in some cases, more serious parasitic infection. The main symptoms of helminthiasis are shown as well as intestinal infection - nausea, headache, gastrointestinal disorders function.
Disclaimer: RPE takes pride in being your source for your Life Knowledge information. The information and statements made in this article are for educational purposes and are not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. RPE does not dispense medical advice, prescribe, or diagnose illness. The information given is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from the research of the RPE Team. We encourage you to make your own health care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional.
ENVIRONMENTAL KNOWLEDGE
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PUBLISHED:
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October 11, 2020
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