Washing Your Hands and Other Preventive Measures
By Brandi Swieter
Handwashing Awareness Week arrives in early December, making now the time to learn about just how important the activity is. Paired with other preventive measures that help people avoid illness, handwashing can be a huge help in keeping sickness at bay. People should be washing their hands and finding other ways to avoid cold and flu symptoms as often as possible.
Proper Handwashing Techniques
Most people quickly wash their hands without much thought about it. There are actually proper handwashing techniques that should be followed for a proper clean. Scrubbing with soap for at least 20 seconds, for example, ensures there is adequate time to kill off bacteria. It's best to get in between the fingers and up toward the wrists for an all-over clean. It's necessary to wash after using the restroom, after touching surfaces that others have touched, before and after cooking, after blowing the nose, after touching treated wood, after changing a dirty diaper, after touching garbage, after touching an animal, and before and after treating a wound.
Sanitizing Between Times
Hand sanitizer is a popular option for keeping the hands clean in between washing times. It isn't always possible to get to the sink and wash with soap and water. Having a bottle of sanitizer on your person or nearby will ensure the hands can get cleaned any time, anywhere. It should be thoroughly rubbed in until the hands feel dry.
Up Your Vitamin Intake
Vitamins can be a huge help in maintaining health. During winter and throughout the rest of the year, people should be sure to take their daily vitamins. Vitamin C and Vitamin D are especially important. They will help to boost immunity and energy levels.
Get More Sleep
Getting enough sleep each night is also vital in ensuring a person's overall well-being. Sickness tends to set in easier for those who have a lack of sleep. Their bodies are already run-down and tired, making it easier for illness to take over and hit hard. Getting more sleep will help to prevent illness as well as fight disease faster once it arrives. The body needs lots of time to rest and recuperate.
Maintaining health is important any time of year, but especially as the holidays roll around. People are more likely to be in proximity to one another, filling malls and stores to shop for the latest trends in gifts. Families and friends visit more often. Handwashing and other preventive measures keep people from getting sick and spreading their germs to others. Use Handwashing Awareness Week to start thinking more about this and continue to do so for the sake of your well-being.
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