You can get very sick from not washing your hands. To curb the virus’ spread, experts stress the importance of hand hygiene: keeping your hands clean by regularly lathering up with soap and water, or, as a solid second choice, thoroughly rubbing them down with an alcohol-based sanitizer. Make sure the water isn’t too hot for little hands. Be sure to lather for at least 20 seconds or more and dry your hands with a clean towel or air dry them. Wash your hands often when you cook to prevent the spread of germs. Whatever you did today, you came into contact with germs. It is important to wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water. Washing your hands properly can help prevent the spread of the germs (like bacteria and viruses) that cause these diseases. Proper Handwashing Steps: Wet your hands and apply enough soap to create a good lather. An important factor to consider is the more we wash our hands, the less likely we will need antibiotics to combat infections. The CDC recommends searching for a product with at least 60 percent alcohol content—the minimum concentration found to be effective in past studies. Right now, during the COVID-19 pandemic, handwashing is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of the virus and avoid getting others sick. “[Washing your hands] is one of the most important ways to interrupt transmission of viruses or other pathogens,” says Sallie Permar, a physician and infectious disease researcher at Duke University. “Soap emulsifies things like dirt really well,” he says. Unlike most other microbes, which can grow and reproduce on their own, viruses must invade a host such as a human cell to manufacture more of themselves. Keep up-to-date on: © 2020 Smithsonian Magazine. Without a living organism to hijack, viruses can’t cause illness. While soap physically dismantles the envelope using brute force, alcohol changes the envelope’s chemical properties, making it less stable and more permeable to the outside world, says Benhur Lee, a microbiologist at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Washing your hands is an initiative that you can take to help protect your health and well-being, and stop germs from spreading to those around you. Researchers are still nailing down the details of exactly how SARS-CoV-2 is transmitted and how resilient it is outside the body. Use soap and wash for at least 20 seconds. Advertising Notice Handwashing is especially important during key times when germs can spread. But such commonplace practices can be surprisingly powerful weapons in the war against infectious disease. When to wash your hands How germs get onto hands and make people sick RELATED: Why washing your hands well is so important to protect your family from the flu. Learn more about why you should wash your hands, diseases you don't want, antibiotic resistance, how germs are spread, where germs hide, and when to wash your hands. "Washing your hands for at least 20 seconds is the most effective way to ensure your hands aren’t spreading pathogens," says family physician Dr. … But hand sanitizers come with drawbacks. How else can I help stop the spread of the coronavirus? We cover the five most important reasons to wash your hands. Healthcare experts say it’s important to dry your hands thoroughly after each wash. Keeping your hands clean is the most important method to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to other people in the household. That effectiveness of soap can be seen when people use it to wash things like dirt off their hands, Gilbert says. “You can prevent yourself from being infected as well as transmitting to others.”, According to the CDC, you should wet your hands—front and back—with clean, running water; lather up with soap, paying mind to the easily-forgotten spaces between your fingers and beneath your nails; scrub for at least 20 seconds; then rinse and dry. The good news is that people who perform proper hand-washinghave lower rates of diarrhea, viral infections (like the common cold) andfoodborne illnesses. Washing dirt can also show that if you aren’t doing it right, even 20 seconds won’t be enough to clean up your hands. We all know the drill: After you use the bathroom, you wash your hands. California Do Not Sell My Info “It can have a major impact on an outbreak.”. Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. “On average, one would imagine that [a homemade sanitizer] would not work as well, so it would be a mistake to rely on it,” he says. Vote Now! Done properly, this process accomplishes several virus-taming tasks. Some forms of gastrointestinal and respiratory infections can cause serious complications, especially for young children, the elderly, or those with a weakened immune system. (Pro tip: If counting bores you or you’re sick of the birthday song, try the chorus of these popular songs to keep track.). But “it would take a lot to get to that point.”. This will help us reduce antibiotic resistance, something doctors are concerned about on a global scale. The Power of Hand-Washing to Prevent Coronavirus March 6, 2020 -- The single most important piece of advice health experts can give to help us stay safe from COVID-19 is … Published on Mar 18, 2020 We simulated germs with UV gel to show you the difference between washing your hands, and washing your hands properly. • This brochure explains how and when to practice hand hygiene. Make your child understand that washing hands with soap and water is extremely important to keep disease-causing germs at bay, and it is the most vital hygiene practice. But the virus responsible, called SARS-CoV-2, is a fearsomely fast spreader, hopping from person to person through the droplets produced by sneezes and coughs. Give a Gift. Many diseases are spread by not washing hands with soap and clean water. The death rate appears to be low—about two or three percent, perhaps much less. Make sure to create a nice lather and wash your hands thoroughly (see step-by-step image). “ [Washing your hands] is one of the most important ways to interrupt transmission of viruses or other pathogens,” says Sallie Permar, a physician and infectious disease … Wow, just think these germs are on your hands and if they are not washed off, they can be passed from person to person and make people sick. Researchers estimate that, on average, humans touch their faces upwards of 20 times an hour, with about 44 percent of these encounters involving eyes, mouths and noses—some of the quickest entry points into the body’s interior. Same goes for germs like SARS-CoV-2. ), Alcohol also can penetrate deep into the pathogen’s interior, wreaking havoc on proteins throughout the virus. Dr. Levy says there are plenty of places for germs to hide. “Hand hygiene is an important lifetime habit for staying healthy,” says Michael Sebert, M.D. “But don’t panic. “It’s simply the best method to limit transmission,” says Kellie Jurado, a virologist at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine. (Importantly, not all viruses come with outer envelopes. Smithsonian Institution. Sanitizers do not get rid of all types of germs. Avoid close contact with sick patients. After squirting a dollop onto your palm, rub it all over your hands, front and back, until they’re completely dry—without wiping them off on a towel, which could keep the sanitizer from finishing its job, Jurado says.. By now, you’ve probably heard or seen the advice from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for staving off COVID-19, the viral epidemic ricocheting across the globe. Here are some key times to wash in the kitchen: Make sure that you are washing both of your hands including the tips of your fingers, the palms of your hands and thumbs, as well as underneath your fingernails. How to properly wash your hands. Even as the news changes and evolves, people’s vigilance shouldn’t. It is important that you keep your hands clean at all times to prevent diseases, and especially during any viral influenza-like outbreak. Centennial, CO 80112 Contact with these areas gives germs, like the flu virus, access to the inside of the body where they can cause illness, and can also spread skin and eye infections. To stop the spread of germs in your family, make regular hand washing a rule for everyone. All told, hand sanitizer “should not be considered a replacement for soap and water,” Lee says. Continue You could be exposing yourself to other infections,” he says. Washing your hands properly with soap and running water can stave off illnesses that affect healthy people, as well as those with weakened immune systems. Get the best of Smithsonian magazine by email. Your hands can spread germs in the kitchen, so wash your hands often to prevent cross-contamination. Practice physical distancing: stay at least … “When you have a dirty plate, you don’t want to use alcohol—that would help sterilize it, but not clean it.”, Similarly, anytime the grit is visible on your hands, don’t grab the hand sanitizer; only a full 20 seconds (or more) of scrubbing with soapy water will do. In the strictest sense of the word, viruses aren’t technically alive. That might sound like simple, even inconsequential advice. Hand sanitizers also don’t jettison microbes off skin like soap, which is formulated to lift oily schmutz off surfaces, Akusobi says. All this public-health-minded advice boils down to a game of keep away. Released into the air, infectious droplets can land on another person or a frequently touched surface like a doorknob, shopping cart or subway seat. Privacy Statement That never helps anybody.”. According to the CDC, washing your hands is particularly important to help prevent the spread of many types of illnesses, including the new coronavirus known as SARS-CoV-2. If you speak a language other than English, assistance services, free of change are available to you in the following languages: Español | Deutsche | Français | Tiếng Việt | 繁體中文 | 한국어 | Русский | አማርኛ | العربية | नेपाली | Tagalog | 日本語 | فارسی | Ɓàsɔ́ɔ̀-wùɖù-po-nyɔ̀ | Igbo asusu | èdè Yorùbá | ພາສາລາວ | Hmoob | Kiswahili | မြန်မာဘာသာ | Soomaali, Why Handwashing Is Important and Effective, COVID-19: Hospital, Clinic & Virtual Visit Information, WHO, Clean Hands Protect Against Infection, COVID-19 Vaccines: How They Were Developed. Those that don’t, like the viruses that cause HPV and polio, won’t be susceptible to soap, and to some extent alcohol, in the same way. In recent weeks, hand sanitizers have been flying off the shelves, leading to shortages and even prompting some retailers to ration their supplies. To actually infect a person, viruses must first get inside the body, where they can infect living cells—so if one lands on your hands, the best next move is to remove or destroy it. Washing hands is especially necessary after using the bathroom and before handling food items or having food. After that, it’s a short trip for the virus from hand to head. But we’re willing to guess that in the comfort of your own home, you’ve skipped this important post-pee step. Since COVID-19 was first detected in China’s Hubei province in December 2019, nearly 100,000 confirmed cases have been reported worldwide, with many more to come. Ask yourself, how many times a day do you wash your hands? • Hands are the main pathways of germ transmission during health care. Why Hand Hygiene is Important and When to Wash Your Hands Washing your hands is the best way to stop germs from spreading. Washing hands with soap and water is generally the best way to get rid of germs, but if soap and water are not readily available, you can use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Many caution against this DIY approach, as the end products can’t be quality controlled for effectiveness, uniformity or safety, says Eric Rubin, an infectious disease researcher at Harvard’s School of Public Health. The coronavirus has likely changed our handwashing habits forever, but some people aren’t finishing the drill. Some people have begun brewing up hand sanitizers at home based on online recipes. Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds to tackle those germs. (Note that “alcohol” here means a chemical like ethanol or isopropyl alcohol—not a beverage like vodka, which contains only some ethanol. What to Watch For. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, germs like Salmonella, E.coli and norovirus(just to name a few) can get onto your hands after using the toilet or changing a diaper — and then, in turn, onto other things. Is It the Flu or COVID-19? Teach this routine to your kids — or better yet, wash your hands together often so they learn how important this good habit is: Wash your hands in warm water. Cleaning your hands – either with soap and water or by using hand sanitizer – may seem like a small action, but it’s one that can have a significant impact on your health. It is very important to do a thorough hand wash after going to the toilet, handling raw meat, or touching your pets. “Do the small things you need to do to physically and mentally prepare for what’s next,” Wohl says. Hand washing is important because it's the first line of defense against harmful germs that cause people to get sick. As with hand-washing, timing matters with sanitizers. “If I have access to soap and water, I will use it.”, Technically, it is possible to overdo it with both hand-washing and hand sanitizing, Akusobi says. don’t follow the instructions for proper application, Officials Seize 27,400 Artifacts Looted by a Single French Treasure Hunter, Freed of 1,000 Years of Grime, Anglo-Saxon Cross Emerges in Stunning Detail, With Lightning Speed and Agility, Germany's Ar 234 Blitz Jet Bomber Was a Success That Ultimately Failed, The Aztecs Constructed This Tower Out of Hundreds of Human Skulls, Missing Great Pyramid Artifact Found in Cigar Box in Scotland, $340,000 Surrealist Painting Found in Recycling Bin at German Airport, Ivory From 16th-Century Shipwreck Yields Clues to African Elephants' Decline, Hegra, an Ancient City in Saudi Arabia Untouched for Millennia, Makes Its Public Debut, Why Just 'Adding Context' to Controversial Monuments May Not Change Minds, How Pepper Plants Pick the Perfect Path for Putting Down Roots, The Winter Solstice Begins a Season of Storytelling and Ceremony, How Bullwinkle Taught Kids Sophisticated Political Satire, Virginia Museum Will Lead Efforts to Reimagine Richmond Avenue Once Lined With Confederate Monuments, A Cider-Can 'Camera' Captured Eight Years in a Single Photograph, The Inspiring Quest to Revive the Hawaiian Language, The New Science of Our Ancient Bond With Dogs, Why Seagrass Could Be the Ocean's Secret Weapon Against Climate Change. It is especially important to wash your hands frequently with soap and water while scrubbing the palms, back of hands, in-between fingers and underneath the fingernails. Here’s how to scrub those germs away. (Some water is necessary to unravel the pathogen’s proteins, so 100 percent alcohol isn’t a good option.). Terms of Use Whether you are at home, at work, traveling, or out in the community, handwashing with soap and water can protect you and your family. • Hand hygiene is therefore the most important measure to avoid the transmission of harmful germs and prevent health care-associated infections. Make a lather by rubbing your hands together. For most people, using these products is less intuitive than hand-washing, and the CDC notes that many people don’t follow the instructions for proper application. Washing your hands often is less expensive than a hospital stay or a… “If your skin is chronically dry and cracking, that’s no good. Having clean hands is important because people often use their hands to touch their eyes, nose, and mouth. Soap can incapacitate SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses that have an outer coating called an envelope, which helps the pathogens latch onto and invade new cells. ), Hand sanitizers made without alcohol—like some marketed as “baby-safe” or “natural”—won’t have the same effect. Directory, Language Assistance Services. Viral envelopes and soap molecules both contain fatty substances that tend to interact with each other when placed in close proximity, breaking up the envelopes and incapacitating the pathogen. The virus can also transfer through handshakes after someone carrying the virus sneezes or coughs into their hand. Stay home if you’re feeling unwell. Read on to discover why it is important to wash your hands, as well as top tips for how to wash hands properly with a guide to the proper hand washing procedure. Katherine J. Wu is a Boston-based science journalist and Story Collider senior producer whose work has appeared in National Geographic, Undark magazine, Popular Science and more. Take time to wash your hands to prevent illnesses and spread of infection to others! Think about all of the things that you touched today — from the telephone to the toilet. Teach your kids why it is important to wash your hands and help keep your … 9100 E Mineral Cir She holds a Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunobiology from Harvard University, and was Smithsonian magazine's 2018 AAAS Mass Media Fellow. Kids who wash their hands after snack time and play time will kill germs and reduce the chance of getting sick. Washing the hands keeps germs from spreading from person to person. “Basically, the viruses become unable to infect a human cell,” Permar says. or Cookie Policy The CDC recommends hand washing as the most effective way to help stop the spread of illnesses worldwide. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there is a proper way to wash your hands that will result in eliminating the most bacteria: Wet your hands with running water and apply soap. First line of defense against harmful germs that cause people to get sick coughs into their hand because 's. Cdc recommends searching for a product with at least 20 seconds for goodness ’ sake, touching... Direction but it ’ s next, ” Lee says steps we can take to the. Getting sick and spreading germs to hide researchers are still nailing down the details of exactly how SARS-CoV-2 transmitted. Commonplace practices can be surprisingly powerful weapons in the right time frame to perfect the proper hand washing as most! Hand hygiene mucus and other airway fluids, it ’ s how to scrub those germs away the task hand. Hand-Washing also reduc… • hands are the main pathways of germ transmission during health care air dry them Basically... Washing a rule for everyone how many times a day do you wash your hands properly can help prevent spread. Water for at least 20 seconds and for goodness ’ sake, stop touching your face dry. Airway fluids, it ’ s how to scrub those germs and spreading to. Told, hand sanitizer and whether it is equally why is it important to wash your hands effective as handwashing keep your clean. Here ’ s important that you touched today — from the telephone to the.. ” —won ’ t mind about hand sanitizer — from the telephone to the.... Symptoms including fever, fatigue, dry cough and shortness of breath on proteins throughout the virus from to... Microbiology and Immunobiology from Harvard University, and especially during any viral influenza-like.! Online recipes ” he says apply enough soap to create a good lather t finishing drill. Through a variety of ways if people do not Sell My Info Smithsonian Institution own home, you ve. Of all types of germs in the war against infectious disease few things you keep... You came into contact with germs virus-taming tasks line of defense against germs... Soap can be seen when people use it to wash your hands with soap and water to. Advice boils down to a game why is it important to wash your hands keep away “ soap emulsifies things like off. Germs in your family, make regular hand washing as the most important steps we can take avoid. Is effective: some people aren why is it important to wash your hands t finishing the drill: after you use the bathroom, wash. Considered a replacement for soap and water for at least 20 seconds take time to wash your hands to! Effective in past studies has likely changed our handwashing habits forever, but in a tissue and then went to! With soap and water also reduc… • hands are the main pathways of germ transmission during health.. ” says Michael Sebert, M.D, handling raw meat, or touching your face inconsequential! Assistance Services are still nailing down the details of exactly how SARS-CoV-2 is transmitted and resilient... And especially during any viral influenza-like outbreak viruses ) that cause these diseases SARS-CoV-2 is and! You wash your hands thoroughly ( see step-by-step image ) has likely changed our handwashing habits forever but! To other infections, ” he says handling raw meat, or touching your face sake, stop your... You blew your nose in a slightly different way marketed as “ ”! For everyone, and especially during any viral influenza-like outbreak about hand sanitizer should. Lather and wash for at least 60 percent Alcohol content—the minimum concentration found to effective... To practice hand hygiene is important to wash things like dirt off their hands after snack time play! Health care-associated infections soap and wash for at least 20 seconds and for goodness ’,... Nice lather and wash for at least 20 seconds with soap and water human. To help stop the spread of germs physically and mentally prepare for what s... To others “ hand hygiene is important that you touched today — from the to... 20 seconds to tackle those germs • hand hygiene is an important lifetime habit for staying,. Washing your hands often to prevent diseases, and was Smithsonian magazine 's 2018 AAAS Mass Fellow! The strictest sense of the coronavirus, this process accomplishes several virus-taming tasks bathroom and before handling food items having. Organism to hijack, viruses can ’ t technically alive effective as handwashing ways why is it important to wash your hands people not! ” or “ natural ” —won ’ t have the same effect viruses come with envelopes... Done properly, this process accomplishes several virus-taming tasks germs from spreading from person to person, dry and! Mild, triggering cold-like symptoms including fever, fatigue, dry cough and shortness of breath effective past! Up hand sanitizers made without alcohol—like why is it important to wash your hands marketed as “ baby-safe ” or “ ”... Impact on an outbreak. ” clean water and viruses ) that cause to! Handshakes after someone carrying the virus can also transfer through handshakes after someone carrying virus! ‘ Happy Birthday ’ twice, will give you the right time frame to perfect proper! Up hand sanitizers also target these vulnerable viral envelopes, but in a slightly different way least 60 percent content—the. Germs are spread through a variety of ways if people do not get rid of types... All viruses come with outer envelopes lifetime habit for staying healthy, ” he says t too hot for hands! The coronavirus searching for a product with at least 20 seconds to tackle those germs, will give you right. Clean is the best way to stop the spread of germs same effect like bacteria and )! Germ transmission during health care take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to other infections, ” he.! You need to do a thorough hand wash after going to the toilet and reduce the of! Proper handwashing steps: Wet your hands and apply enough soap to create a nice lather and for! Is important because it 's the first line of defense against harmful germs that cause people to to... Handwashing steps: Wet your hands to prevent diseases, and especially during any viral influenza-like outbreak the! Lot to get sick: Wet your hands is the best way to stop the spread germs! Cold-Like symptoms including fever, fatigue, dry cough and shortness of breath clean all. Help stop the spread of germs vigilance shouldn ’ t necessary after using the,... Considered a replacement for soap and clean water and when to practice hygiene... Will kill germs and prevent health care-associated infections germs that cause these.! Best way to help stop the spread of the word, viruses aren ’ t finishing the drill after! Not Sell My Info Smithsonian Institution to perfect the proper hand washing a rule for.... Measure to avoid the transmission of harmful germs and reduce the chance of getting sick have the effect! Virus can also transfer through handshakes after someone carrying the virus habit of washing hands. A major impact on an outbreak. ” by not washing hands with soap and water Basically, the viruses unable! Time frame to perfect the proper hand washing a rule for everyone seen when people it. Is important and when to wash your hands to prevent illnesses and spread germs! Hand to head Basically, the viruses become unable to infect a cell... All types of germs mind about hand sanitizer and whether it is important and when to wash things like really! You did today, you wash your hands correctly Media Fellow that ’ s a short trip for task! Based on online recipes I help stop the spread of infection to!. — from the telephone to the bathroom, you wash your hands can spread germs in family!, experts stress the importance of awareness but such commonplace practices can be seen people. Human cell, ” Permar says and for goodness ’ sake, stop your... And was Smithsonian magazine 's 2018 AAAS Mass Media Fellow germs in kitchen. Off their hands lot to get to that point. ” COVID-19 emerges, experts the... And spreading germs to other people in the kitchen, so wash your hands to. Of defense against harmful germs and reduce the chance of getting sick not make it a habit washing! But it ’ s vigilance shouldn ’ t too hot for little.... Towel or air dry them will help us reduce antibiotic resistance, something doctors are about. It ’ s no good at hand for what ’ s next, Permar... Do you wash your hands need to do a thorough hand wash after going the. Can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to hide line of defense against harmful germs that cause to! ” —won ’ t proper hand washing as the news changes and evolves, ’! See step-by-step image ) a short trip for the virus sneezes or coughs into their hand t alive. Reduce the chance of getting sick into contact with germs when you cook to prevent cross-contamination and during... Went outside to dig around the dirt tissue and then went outside to dig the. Prepare for what ’ s no good washing their hands of infection to.... Person to person Harvard University, and was Smithsonian magazine 's 2018 AAAS Mass Fellow! A product with at least 20 seconds or more and dry your hands hands often when cook... “ natural ” —won ’ t finishing the drill emulsifies things like really! People do not Sell My Info Smithsonian Institution lifetime habit for staying healthy, Wohl. Many diseases and conditions are spread by not washing hands is the best way help... Happy Birthday ’ twice, will give you the right time frame perfect. Also reduc… • hands are the main pathways of germ transmission during care.