Wash Your Hands – No Seriously
Hand Washing Awareness …
National Hand Washing Awareness Week is the first week of December. The simple “Wash Your Hands” program is the brainchild of Infection Prevention Specialist, Dr. Will Sawyer. Dr. Sawyer’s program uses Positive Deviance Strategy as a method to teach children the simple do’s & don’ts of hand washing.
All Hands Matter
The program promotes 4 Principles of Hand Washing Awareness which has become a “best practices” beacon for all, not just children. After all, all hands matter, big & small!
By incorporating the 4 principles into everyday action, especially in schools and public places, the community as a whole can effectively avoid or reduce respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses – huge.
We Have Principles
The simple 4 Principles of Hand Washing Awareness has been endorsed by the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Family Physicians.
Keep it simple and follow these 4 steps. Do your part to effectively reduce the number of preventable infectious disease outbreaks this season.
- Wash hands when dirty & before eating.
- Do not cough into your hands.
- Don’t sneeze into your hands.
- Refrain from putting your fingers in your eyes, nose or mouth.
The Caveat
The caveat is #4. Never put fingers in your eyes, nose or mouth. Primary infection prevention is as simple as keeping fingers away from your face … eyes, nose & mouth, aka your mucous membranes.
In fact, these membranes actually mimic the attributes of a petri dish, the perfect home for growth, and particularly growth of infectious diseases.
Let’s Be Pandemic Free
The simple act of keeping your dirty little hands away from your eyes, nose, and mouth translates to a world that could be forever pandemic free. Imagine, all the people living life free of preventable infectious disease.
Do These Things
- Wash your hands.
- Learn how to properly use a nail brush.
- Be mindful of the dangers of cross contamination & act accordingly.
- Never, ever inoculate/contaminate your mucous membranes (eyes, nose, mouth).
The Take-Away
Remember, like many things in life, the simplest solutions can solve the most complex problems. By following these simple steps it is quite possible to eradicate Hepatitis A, MRSA, flu, flu-like, strep, E. coli and other readily preventable infectious diseases.
Soap
Health Care, Food Service, School Health, Employee Health and general Public Health can only benefit from being aware of how important hand health actually is. You know what may be even more important? Soap.
So, just keep a plenty of good old-fashioned soap on hand. Place it everywhere. Maybe a little sign too…”Wash Your Hands, No Seriously”. Soap is an unbelievably affordable lit