First Off, Wash Hands!


Well, I guess I was not washing my hands well or I forgot to wash my hands that's why I got this flu. But then, here's a little reminder for us. Swine flu can be prevented, and as to how, get back to the basics! Wash hands!

A delicious warm pizza, a good-luck gem, or a friendly pat on the pet dog are just a few of the presents kids love to bring home to Mom and Dad. But behind these adorable gifts, millions of germs could be lurking.

Kids don't always listen when you tell them to wash their hands before eating, but it's a message worth repeating. Hand washing is by far the best way to prevent germs from spreading and to keep your kids from getting sick.

Germs can be transmitted in many ways, including:

* touching dirty hands
* changing dirty diapers
* through contaminated water and food
* through droplets released during a cough or a sneeze
* via contaminated surfaces
* through contact with a sick person's body fluids
* via handrails and other things you are touching
* via dusty rooms and stuffy environments

When kids come into contact with germs, they can unknowingly become infected simply by touching their eyes, nose, or mouth. And once they're infected, it's usually just a matter of time before the whole family comes down with the same illness.

Good hand washing is the first line of defense against the spread of many illnesses, from the common cold to more serious illnesses such as meningitis, bronchiolitis, influenza, hepatitis A, and most types of infectious diarrhea.

Washing Hands Correctly

Here's how to scrub those germs away. Demonstrate this routine to your kids — or better yet, wash your hands together often so they learn how important this good habit is:

1. Wash your hands in warm water. Make sure the water isn't too hot for little hands.
2. Use soap and lather up for about 10 to 15 seconds (antibacterial soap isn't necessary — any soap will do). Make sure you get in between the fingers and under the nails where uninvited germs like to hang out. And don't forget the wrists!
3. Rinse and dry well with a clean towel.


To minimize the germs passed around your family, make frequent hand washing a rule for everyone, especially:

* before eating and cooking
* after using the bathroom
* after cleaning around the house
* after touching animals, including family pets
* before and after visiting or taking care of any sick friends or relatives
* after blowing one's nose, coughing, or sneezing
* after being outside (playing, gardening, walking the dog, etc.)

Don't underestimate the power of hand washing! The few seconds you spend at the sink could save you trips to the doctor's office.

Comments

kg said…
buti na lang si wendy mahilig maghugas ng kamay. i, too, have been urging myself to do this regularly. it helps you know!

how are you feeling na sheng? :)
witsandnuts said…
With all these scary news, we should really remember/go back to basics. Get well, Sheng.
Reena said…
thanks sheng. i'm OC when it come to tidying things up. and that includes washing my hands all the time! hehe...i hope i don't get the flu. get well soon and take care!
Sleepless In KL said…
i read somewhere that the during of your washing/scrubbing is also important to make sure you get rid of as much dirt/germs as possible. and that's approximately the length of the 'happy birthday' song :)
Jinky! said…
nice one, huh!

my youngest jasmine sings her ABC's while washing hands. .. after singing tapos din wash ng hands. . .
Kayni said…
I agree. It's a simple process but goes a long way to prevent us from catching any bug.
kcatwoman said…
that's true. handwashing is the best form of disease prevention
Perky said…
Well I have OCB (obsessive compulsive behavior), so my hands are always clean ;)
Rico said…
Naku! Guilty ako for not washing my hands often. My wife on the other hand is OC. She washes her hands more than necessary.
Heart of Rachel said…
I'm quite an OC when it comes to washing my hands. I even carry a hand sanitizer with me all the time.

Thanks for sharing these valuable tips. It's really important to prioritize hygiene.
eks said…
prevention is better than cure. :-) ako naman kasi, because i really love to eat with my bare hands, i wash my hand as frequent as possible. probably more than necessary. but it pays off naman, i guess, because i really cannot remember the last time i got sick. :-) that was probably a loooong time ago pa.
Anonymous said…
Good advice!! I wash my hands a lot. I heard that if you sing the whole Happy Birthday song while washing your hands then you have washed them for the right amount of time. A quick rinse doesn't work. I hope you are feeling better.
princess_dyanie said…
ako pag wala water, alcohol ang panglaban lalo na if katatapos lang maghawak ng money, doors etc ;)

how are u sheng? get well soon! :)
caryn said…
i remember when i was in the hospital last year, there were signs everywhere showing the proper way to wash one's hands ;-)
escape said…
a minute washing your hands is really recommended. nice that you posted something like this.
RedLan said…
sa trabaho ko, kelangan talaga everytime maghugas ako ng kamay. Alcohol usually ang gamit ko. Pero confident ka talaga kapag maghugas ng kamay with soap.
Anonymous said…
i hope my officemates don't mind me whistling 'bahay kubo' or 'happy birthday' when washing my hands in the office! haha...
Garando said…
I always wash my hands and feet the moment I get home. I get restless until I finally do it. Uh-oh, I think I'm OC. :D

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