Coronavirus: Hand Washing Step by Step guide at Home .

During the coronavirus disease COVID-19 pandemic, keeping hand clean is especially important to help prevent the virus from spreading 

Handwashing is one of the best ways to protect yourself and your family from getting sick. Learn when and how you should wash your hands to stay healthy.

Hand washing is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of bacterial and viral illness 

As we are aware through the day, hands accumulate germs and dirt as they touch objects and other people. Individual can then transfer these substances to others, or infect themselves when touching their face.

Regular hand washing can limit the transfer of microbes, such as bacteria and viruses however many people do not wash their hands properly or for long enough to get rid of germs. 

Why hand washing ? 

Proper hand washing is necessary to reduce the risk of 

• Coronavirus COVID-19
• Colds and flu 
• Transferring dirt and microbes to surface and other people 
• Viral infections that causes diarrhea, including norovirus 
• Eyes infection 
• Superbugs, such as MRSA 

Step by Step guid for proper hand washing: 

1. Wet your hands with plenty of clean water.
2. Cover all the surface of your hands in soap 
3. Rub the palms together to form a lather 
4. Rub the palm of one hand over the back of the other hand, making sure to clean in between your fingers. Repeat with the other hand.
5. Rub the palm together again, and also clean in between the fingers again 
6. Rub the backs of the fingers against the apposite plam, interlocking the fingers as you do this 
7. Grasp thumb of one hand with other hand, and rotate the closed hand around to clean it. Repeat with other thumb and hand.
8. Rub the tips of the fingers of one hand on the palm of the other hand. Repeat with other hand 
9. If a clean nail brush is available, scrub gently under the nails. 
10. Rinse the hands under clean, running water.
11. Dry them thoroughly, ideally, with a disposable towel. Alternatively, allow them air dry 
12. Use the towel or paper napkin to turn off the  tap and then dispose it.

Wash the hands regularly throughout the day 

It is a good idea to wash the hands several times during the day. Key times to wash the hands include: 

• When they are visible dirty 
• Before eating 
• Before and after preparing food 
• After using toilet 
• After changing a diaper 
• After helping a child who has used toilet 
• Before inserting or removing contact lenses 
• Before touching face 
• Before and after treating wound 
• After coughing, sneezing, or blowing the nose 
• Before and after taking care of someone who is ill
• After touching an animal or their food or waste 
• After handling garbage. 

Washing for at least 20 seconds

The Centers for Disease control and Prevention (CDC) recommend scrubbing the hands for at least 20 seconds. The gold standard involves scrubbing your hands thoroughly with soap and clean water for atleast 20 seconds. If you are giving 20 seconds then soap molecule gets enough time to do their job of washing out the any virus. 

Use any type of Soap 

According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), there is not enough evidence to show that over the counter antibacterial soaps are any better at killing microbes than regular soaps 

Use hand sanitizer

If soap and water are unavailable. At these times, an alcohol based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol is an acceptable alternative. 

To use a hand sanitizer 

1. Apply the recommended amount of gel to palm of one hand. 
2. Cover all surfaces of hand and fingers 
3. Rub the hands together for approximately 20 seconds

Note that hand sanitizers do not kill all types of microbes, and they will not remove visible dirt, grease and chemicals from skin 

Summary  

Proper hand washing can prevent the spread of illness and infection. It is a simple yet effective technique that anyone can use 

To properly wash the hands, use soap and water, and rub every surface of the fingers and for at least 20 seconds. Thoroughly dry the hands on a disposable or clean towel or allow to dry air.