The Secret to Better Health: Wash Your Hands!

BY ALLISON KOZICHAROW; EDITED BY BERNICE BORN

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How do you wash your hands properly?

 

Washing your hands properly takes about as long as singing “Happy Birthday” twice, while you follow the directions below.
 

Source: World Health Organization

hat is a principal line of defense against many infectious diseases? Yes, that’s right — handwashing — the key to the prevention of the common cold, the flu and many more infections.

 

Handwashing is one of the best ways to remove germs (bacteria, parasites and viruses) to avoid getting sick and to prevent the spread of germs to other people.

 

WiRED International offers a Handwashing Module that explains the importance of handwashing, how to do it effectively, how to improvise when running water is not available and much more. The module is particularly useful to parents and teachers when discussing the topic with their children.

 

The module is particularly useful to parents and teachers when discussing the topic with their children.

Flu season is here. WiRED urges everyone to practice and promote handwashing today and every day.


A Special Note to Teachers

Handwashing with soap is not only simple and inexpensive, but it also can dramatically reduce sickness among young children. Teaching children and adults alike about handwashing helps them and their communities stay healthy. Handwashing education in the community can:

  • Reduce the number of people who get sick with diarrhea by about 23-40%
  • Reduce diarrheal illness in people with HIV by about 58%
  • Reduce respiratory illnesses, like colds, in the general population by about 16-21%

WiRED's handwashing module is a good classroom teaching tool, and it's available for use online and for downloading (using HealthMAP), without charge.

Source: CDC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


When should you wash your hands?

 

      • Before, during and after preparing food
      • Before eating food
      • Before and after caring for someone who is sick
      • Before and after treating a cut or wound
      • After using the toilet
      • After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet
      • After blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing
      • After touching an animal, animal feed or animal waste
      • After handling pet food or pet treats
      • After touching garbage

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Protection (CDC)

 

 


You can download the module in this story, and all 400+ of WiRED’s health modules, through WiRED’s Health Module Access Program (HealthMAP) by clicking here. This easy-to-use free program will enable you to create your own customized collection of health learning modules. You can learn more about HealthMAP through WiRED's animation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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