Hand washing is an important means to prevent infection and spread of disease. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), hand washing can effectively reduce the incidence of many infectious diseases. However, misconceptions and rumors about hand washing are still prevalent in daily life. One of the common myths is: Is water effective in washing hands without soap? This article will explore this issue and provide scientific hand washing advice to help people establish correct hand hygiene awareness.
The importance
of
hand washing The main route
of transmission of
infection
Hand is the main vector of contact transmission infection. In schools, families and public places, bacteria and viruses often contact transmission through the hands. For example, children often come into contact with toys, books and other children in school, and they are prone to influenza and intestinal bacteria without good hand hygiene.
Effective means to
reduce disease
According to research, frequent hand washing can effectively reduce the risk of transmission of colds, influenza and foodborne diseases (such as diarrhea, Salmonella, etc.). The practice of hand hygiene can significantly improve the health of individuals and communities.
The role
of
soap and water The role
of
soap The main function of
soap is to help wash away dirt and microorganisms from hands by effectively reducing the surface tension of water through emulsification and carboxylic acids, whose components help remove dirt and pathogens. The ingredients in the soap can penetrate the cell membrane of bacteria and effectively destroy pathogens, thus killing them.
The role
of
water
In the process of washing hands, the role of water can not be ignored. Running water washes the foam and dirt from the soap away from the hands, ensuring the thorough removal of bacteria and dirt. If only water is used without soap, bacteria and viruses may not be effectively removed. This is because it is difficult for water alone to destroy the cell membrane of bacteria and the dirt attached to the hands.
3. Common misunderstandings
of hand washing
“Rinsing with water is enough.”
Many people think that just rinsing your hands with water will remove the bacteria, which is not true. Washing hands with soap-free water is not effective in reducing bacterial counts. Washing hands with only water will only transfer some pollutants and bacteria, and more likely spread them to other surfaces.
“Quick-dry hand sanitizer can replace hand washing.”
While alcohol-based hand sanitizers can effectively kill most pathogens without soap and water, washing hands with soap and water should still be a priority when touching food, face, or other objects with dirty hands. Quick-drying hand sanitizers will not remove dirt from your hands. If there is obvious contamination on your hands (such as food debris or mud), wash them with soap and water first.
“Just wash your hands once.”
Hand washing should be done at appropriate times, such as before eating, after using the toilet, and after caring for patients. Many people ignore these details and do not wash their hands even when they are exposed to potential pollutants. This practice greatly increases the risk of infection.
“No need to pay attention to details when washing hands.”
When washing hands, people often neglect the cleaning of finger seams, nail seams and the back of hands. The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) recommends that hands should be washed to ensure that the palms, backs, fingers, nails and wrists are clean for at least 20 seconds.
4. Correct hand-washing steps
To ensure that hand washing is effective, the following are the correct steps for hand washing:
Wet your hands: Wet your hands with running water.
Apply soap: Apply an appropriate amount of soap to the phone and the back of the hand.
Rub: Rub hands together to ensure that palms, backs, finger seams, fingertips and nail seams are washed. Rub for at least 20 seconds.
Rinse: Use running water to remove foam and dirt.
Dry: Dry your hands with a clean towel or paper towel, or use an automatic hand dryer.
V. Other Precautions
Use clean towels: In public places, try to avoid touching towels directly with your hands. If conditions permit, disposable paper towels can be used.
Stick to the habit of hand washing: It is essential to develop hand washing into a daily habit, especially during flu season or epidemic, to strengthen hand hygiene awareness.
Educate others: Parents and educators should communicate the importance of hand washing and good hygiene practices to children and adolescents.
Conclusion
Hand washing is an important measure to reduce the risk of infection, and the concept of “washing only with water” or “quick-drying hand sanitizer can replace hand washing” should be corrected. Soap and water are the most effective and basic ways of hand hygiene, which can help us effectively remove bacteria and viruses from our hands. In daily life, as long as we maintain good hand-washing habits, we can effectively protect our own and other people’s health and reduce the risk of disease transmission. Let’s work together to be a person who washes his hands frequently and understands health, so as to protect the health of himself and his family.
