Hand washing: An easy way to prevent infection

Hand washing is a simple habit that can help keep you healthy. Learn the benefits of good hand hygiene, when to wash your hands and how to clean them properly.

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The dangers of not washing your hands

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Throughout the day you accumulate germs on your hands from a variety of sources, such as direct contact with people, contaminated surfaces, foods, even animals and animal waste. If you don't wash your hands frequently enough, you can infect yourself with these germs by touching your eyes, nose or mouth. And you can spread these germs to others by touching them or by touching surfaces that they also touch, such as doorknobs.

Infectious diseases that are commonly spread through hand-to-hand contact include the common cold, flu and several gastrointestinal disorders, such as infectious diarrhea.

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Proper hand-washing techniques

Good hand-washing techniques include washing your hands with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Antimicrobial wipes or towelettes are just as effective as soap and water in cleaning your hands but aren't as good as alcohol-based sanitizers.

Antibacterial soaps have become increasingly popular in recent years. However, these soaps are no more effective at killing germs than is regular soap. Using antibacterial soaps may lead to the development of bacteria that are resistant to the products' antimicrobial agents — making it even harder to kill these germs in the future. In general, regular soap is fine. The combination of scrubbing your hands with soap — antibacterial or not — and rinsing them with water loosens and removes bacteria from your hands.

Proper hand washing with soap and water
Follow these instructions for washing with soap and water:

* Wet your hands with warm, running water and apply liquid soap or use clean bar soap. Lather well.
* Rub your hands vigorously together for at least 15 to 20 seconds.
* Scrub all surfaces, including the backs of your hands, wrists, between your fingers and under your fingernails.
* Rinse well. (for at least 15 to 20 seconds)
* Dry your hands with a clean or disposable towel.
*(If you do not have a paper towel, air-dry your hands)
* Use a towel to turn off the faucet.

Proper use of an alcohol-based hand sanitizer
Alcohol-based hand sanitizers — which don't require water — are an excellent alternative to hand washing, particularly when soap and water aren't available. They're actually more effective than soap and water in killing bacteria and viruses that cause disease. Commercially prepared hand sanitizers contain ingredients that help prevent skin dryness. Using these products can result in less skin dryness and irritation than hand washing.

Not all hand sanitizers are created equal, though. Some "waterless" hand sanitizers don't contain alcohol. Use only the alcohol-based products. The CDC recommends choosing products that contain at least 60 percent alcohol.

To use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer:

* Apply about 1/2 teaspoon of the product to the palm of your hand.
* Rub your hands together, covering all surfaces of your hands, until they're dry.

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Always wash your hands:

* After using the toilet
* After changing a diaper — wash the diaper-wearer's hands, too
* After touching animals or animal waste
* Before and after preparing food, especially before and immediately after handling raw meat, poultry or fish
* Before eating
* After blowing your nose
* After coughing or sneezing into your hands
* Before and after treating wounds or cuts
* Before and after touching a sick or injured person
* After handling garbage
* Before inserting or removing contact lenses
* When using public restrooms, such as those in airports, train stations, bus stations and restaurants

Kids need clean hands, too

You can help your children avoid getting sick by insisting that they wash their hands properly and frequently. To get kids into the habit, teach by example. Wash your hands with your children and supervise their hand washing. Place hand-washing reminders at children's eye level, such as a chart by the bathroom sink for children to mark every time they wash their hands. Make sure the sink is low enough for children to use, or that it has a stool underneath so that children can reach it. Tell your children to wash their hands for as long as it takes them to sing their ABCs, "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" or the "Happy Birthday" song. This works especially well with younger children, who may rush when washing their hands. (Explain to them that it is just as important to rinse their hands for the length of a song also - soap loosens dirt and germs, rinsing washes them off your skin.)

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http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hand-washing/HQ00407

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) includes a variety of different products that can be used to decrease the odds of becoming infected with pandemic influenza.

These include:

* Surgical masks - Face coverings designed to prevent a health care worker or patient from spreading their germs to others. They are not designed to protect the wearer from infectious diseases but may decrease the odds of becoming infected from large droplets.
* Respirators (N95, N99, N100) - Face coverings designed to protect the wearer from small particles including infectious diseases. The number after the "N" describes the percent of small particles expected to be excluded from the air breathed by the wearer of the respirator. These can be purchased either as disposible masks or as resuable full or half-face masks with disposable cartridges.
* Gloves - These are usually made of latex or nitrile and protect against hand contamination, if used correctly.
* Coveralls - Usually made of Tyvek, these protect against contamination of clothing and other body parts.
* Goggles (safety glasses) - Protect eyes from infection.
* Booties - disposable coverings to protect shoes and feet from contamination.

http://homepage.mac.com/monotreme1/Prep ... r/PPE.html

ruts: surgical masks provide little protection against H5N1 or other viruses, especially when worn by the caregiver. They make more sense when worn by the patient.

N95 masks are most commonly used by caregivers but they cannot be relied on for complete protection. Some experts believe that masks should not be worn in public for general protection because they give a false sense of protection that may cause people to get too close to others and in general disregard common sense rules for avoiding contamination.

Coveralls can be made by wearing large shirts, long nightgowns, surgical pants, or anything else that will cover your clothes when taking care of a patient. Use rubber bands to close the material over your wrists and ankles making an airtight seal. After wearing, place in a covered container with a bleach solution, then wash.

It is also good to cover your hair; inexpensive shower caps (found at most dollar stores) are excellent for this.

Booties to cover your shoes will keep them from being contaminated. You can get the booties doctors wear, or in a pinch, use plastic bags from the grocery store, tying them around your ankles (double bag to prevent leaks).

Goggles can be either inexpensive swimming goggles, or safety glasses used in construction