Posted in: DecemberThe Importance of Hand Washing

How To Stay Healthy with Sickness All Around You

With the H1N1 pandemic drawing national attention, washing your hands has never been more important. The simple act of consistently washing your hands properly will make a big difference in your household as well as at work, school, and in public settings.

Did you know? Believe it or not, National Hand Washing Awareness Week has been celebrated during the first week of December each year since 1999 and includes a hand washing competition. So get with your health promotion group, safety committee, or medical department, and promote hand washing in your workplace this week and every week, especially during the winter months.

Here are a few facts and helpful tips that are sure to pique your interest and convince you to wash your hands regularly:

• According to the Mayo Clinic and CDC experts, the most important thing you can do to keep from getting sick is washing your hands.
• Not only can routine hand washing prevent common diseases like colds, but more serious diseases like hepatitis A, meningitis, and infectious diarrhea.
• Only one in three people wash their hands after coughing or sneezing.
• When you wash your hands you should use warm, not hot, water and soap. Rub your hands together for a minimum of 15 seconds or the time it takes to sing “Happy Birthday.”
• Try to turn off the faucet with a towel, not your clean hands, to prevent recontamination.
• One in three E.coli occurrences is caused by a person not washing his or her hands before handling food.
• The Mayo Clinic EmbodyHealth portal recommends that parents ask their child care provider to promote frequent hand washing or use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers. Be sure that all children are required to wash their hands several times a day—not just before meals.
• By frequently washing your hands, you wash away germs that you have picked up from other people, contaminated surfaces, or animals and animal waste.
• Only two-thirds of adults wash their hands after using the bathroom.

Total Well-Being has experience helping organizations in H1N1 preparedness. For more information, call 303.696.5420 or email totalwellbeing@employeetotalwellbeing.com today!

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