Every day, regardless of the activity, humans are exposed to a multitude of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other germs that can harm the body. It doesn't matter whether you're blowing your nose, using the toilet, petting an animal, or even preparing raw meat. Our smartphones, tablets, and PCs, in particular, are veritable germ factories! Unfortunately, we unconsciously touch our faces more often than we realize. This makes it much easier for pathogens and germs on our hands to enter the mucous membranes of the mouth, eyes, or nose, and thus penetrate the body. In the worst-case scenario, they can then trigger an infection. But this process can be easily interrupted—surprise, surprise—by simply washing your hands!
Wash your hands - protect your body!
As just mentioned, many pathogens enter our bodies through the mucous membranes in our faces and wreak havoc there. Many infectious diseases, such as colds, the flu, or gastrointestinal infections, are very often transmitted via the hands. All you have to do is shake hands with a sick person or touch a doorknob where germs are present – it's that easy! Washing your hands, however, is a super simple, straightforward, and effective way to prevent infectious diseases. In fact, washing your hands reduces the number of germs on your hands to as little as one-thousandth! No wonder our parents used to pester us about it, right?
Especially during outbreaks of illness, such as in autumn, winter, and spring, this simple hygiene measure is particularly important, because you automatically pass the germs on your hands to those around you – including friends, colleagues, and family. Of course, nobody wants that. So next time you wash your hands, just remember what you're doing for yourself and, by doing so, for those around you!
Splish Splash:
Of course, you shouldn't only wash your hands when they're visibly dirty, but we probably don't need to tell you that – you're not a little kid anymore! ;) Anyway, it's very important to wash your hands regularly and thoroughly in everyday life. It's recommended, for example, when you come home, after using the toilet, after sneezing, coughing, or blowing your nose, and of course, after contact with animals, animal waste, or pet food. Please also wash your hands before eating or preparing food. To all the women out there – to prevent blemishes, etc., it can help to wash your hands before applying makeup in the morning or removing it in the evening. Generally speaking: Clean your hands before touching anything that will later come into contact with your face or mouth, such as medications or cosmetics. And last but not least – wash your hands after contact with sick people or after treating wounds.
To summarize briefly again:
Always wash your hands before…
- The meals
- The use of medications or cosmetics
- Applying or removing makeup
Always wash your hands before and after…
- Cooking
- The treatment of sick people and the treatment of wounds
Always wash your hands…
- After you got home
- After the toilet
- After sneezing, coughing, or blowing your nose
- After contact with animals, animal feed or animal waste
Handwashing can't be fully effective if you don't do it correctly. That's why we're giving you these tips. Top 3 rules for your hand hygiene:
- Take your time when washing your hands - at least 20 seconds of handwashing drastically reduces the number of germs - and what are 20 seconds in the long day?!
- Wash your hands especially thoroughly in the spaces between your fingers, as well as on your fingernails and fingertips – because germs particularly like to settle here!
- Dry your hands thoroughly, because germs love moist and warm environments!
Quick tip: Just listen to your favorite song while you wash your hands and the time will fly by. This way, thorough handwashing is not only effective, but also fun and puts you in a good mood!
Okay, that's enough about handwashing for today. But as they say, you never stop learning, so we've put together a few more tips for you. Super hygienic in other everyday situations stay!
You previously learned that germs enter our bodies primarily through the mucous membranes of the mouth. And where else could this play an important role? Clearly, during food intake, including in the kitchen. Here are Four simple rules for keeping your kitchen hygienic you hold.
- Cut vegetables, meat, and fish with separate knives and ideally on separate cutting boards. This reduces the risk of germs spreading to other foods. Wash your hands thoroughly in between each step.
- Kitchen towels and dish sponges can become breeding grounds for bacteria if they aren't washed regularly. So please change your kitchen towels at least once a week and wash them in hot water!
- Generally, you should cook animal products like meat or fish thoroughly. A good rule of thumb is at least 3 minutes at 90 degrees Celsius.
- If you have kitchen utensils that aren't dishwasher-safe, or if you don't own a dishwasher, it's especially important to wash them with hot water. And I mean really hot – so hot that you can barely stand to touch them with your bare hands, because that's when the germs on knives, boards, pans, etc., are killed. To avoid burning your fingers, it's advisable to wear thick cleaning gloves.
So, now you know how to keep your kitchen clean. Let's move on to the next point - Household hygiene. Here are a few simple tips we've compiled for you:
- Regular ventilation creates a draft thanks to the fresh air. This firstly carries away germs present in the air. Secondly, fresh air strengthens the immune system and reduces the risk of infection. So, get to the windows, ready, set, go!
- It's important to wash household textiles, bed linen, and underwear regularly at a minimum of 60 degrees Celsius. It's also beneficial to use a fabric softener or detergent containing bleach.
- Regular and thorough cleaning is fundamental to good hygiene in the home. Hygiene areas like the kitchen and bathroom are especially important. You don't need special cleaners to clean your apartment – ordinary, regular cleaning products are perfectly sufficient. Regular dusting is also essential, particularly for allergy sufferers.
Last but not least – another very important hygiene rule. These tips are especially important for you and those around you. They concern… Good hygiene when coughing, blowing your nose and sneezing.
- Perhaps you remember your grandparents using that one cloth handkerchief, reused day after day. While this might be sustainable, it's a bacteriological disaster. Every time it's used, new germs are introduced. So, the rule is: always use a disposable tissue for blowing your nose!
- Please sneeze into your elbow. If you sneeze into your hand and then greet others, the germs will be transferred to them when you shake hands – and nobody wants that!
- If someone in your vicinity sneezes or coughs, it is advisable to turn away to avoid direct contact with the excreted pathogens.
- And one more thing – surprise! Please wash your hands thoroughly after coughing or sneezing – because that's how you protect yourself and others!
We hope this blog post has given you a little refresher course on everyday hygiene. With that in mind – take care and stay healthy!
Source:
https://www.infektionsschutz.de/haendewaschen/
