Every year, Global Handwashing Day is celebrated on October 15. While the activity of washing one's hands is nothing new, it is often a practice that is taken for granted by most people. However, the Covid-19 pandemic has taught us a lot about why we need to keep our hands clean. Dirty hands may not only result in viral diseases but also lead to others like gastroenteritis during the monsoon. Simply put, experts say it is very important to wash our hands often during the day as we also use many tech devices that also carry a lot of germs on them
Updated On: 2022-10-15 09:34 AM IST
Mumbai-based doctors Umang Agrawal and Sneha Vaidya say it is important to wash your hands as a personal hygiene measure and also to prevent diseases which in turn prevents you from spreading it to others. Photo Courtesy: istock
If we don't wash our hands properly the experts say there is a possibility of getting diseases such as diarrhea, viral infections, infections causing colds, dysentery and fever, from dirty hands. Photo Courtesy: istock
Since we use many different gadgets every day not only at home but also the workplace, it is important to wash our hands because every gadget carries different germs with them and that may enter our body and give us different kinds of diseases. One should wash their hands for at least 40-60 seconds under cold or hot water. Apply soap and make sure it covers every part of the hand and scrub for at least 20 seconds, and then wash and dry them to get clean hands. Photo Courtesy: istock
Washing your hands is especially necessary before eating to prevent the germs from entering our body. Washing them frequently during the day after blowing your nose, coughing, after visiting public spaces or transportations, before and after eating food, touching animals, and visiting sick people to prevent them from getting the germs we carry with us. Photo Courtesy: istock
A common misconception is that handwashing isn't important but Agrawal says it has been shown that handwashing prevents the incidences of viral diseases to the extent of 60 per cent. It prevents sickness in around 20-40 per cent of patients. Photo Courtesy: istock
Even though washing our hands is the first thing we are taught as children, and not doing that could not only lead us to get sick but also the people around us, when it can be easily prevented. Photo Courtesy: istock
