How Hand-Washing May Be Your Best Defense Against Coronavirus
COVID-19 is an extremely infectious global pandemic that has been turning the lives of countless people upside down for months now. As scientists and medical professionals all over the world frantically scramble to work on understanding the perplexing layout of this critical virus, a cure is yet to be found.
Even so, there remains one important factor to preventing or significantly slowing the spread of coronavirus: washing our hands.
Keeping Your Hands Sanitized During the Pandemic
Washing your hands is one of the greatest defenses humans have against harmful pathogens and bacteria that hide undetected on common surfaces. Since our hands are constantly on the front lines for exposure to germs, it’s no wonder that keeping them clean throughout the day can dramatically preserve your health.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests several major times you should consider washing your hands.
These include:
- After petting an animal
- After touching raw garbage
- Before and after preparing food
- After using the restroom
- After cleaning bodily fluids of those who are sick (vomit, mucous) or changing diapers
- Before and after treating a wound
The Proper Way to Wash Your Hands in 5 Steps
Many people who do participate in hand-washing unfortunately practice unsanitary cleaning actions. Washing hands under the wrong temperature water or washing for too little of time can actually help bacteria thrive on your skin and defeat the entire purpose.
The CDC outlines the best way to keep your hands clean in these 5 steps:
- Wet your hands with warm running water
- Apply soap and lather your hands completely and thoroughly (palms, backs, in between fingers, nails, wrists)
- Scrub your hands gently for 20 seconds
- Rinse your soapy hands off with warm water
- Dry your hands with a clean paper towel or air dry
It is always recommended that you use warm water and soap to clean the hands throughout the day. Only use hand sanitizer if access to water and soap is unavailable.
Sanitizers are not equal substitutes since they do not always fully eliminate certain bacteria. When applying and using hand sanitizer, lather and scrub your hands for 20 seconds as you would with soap and water until your hands are dry.
Thomas J. Henry Law Remains Available
Even as we deal with COVID-19, accidents and injuries are still going to occur and people will still need access to experienced personal injury attorneys. Thomas J. Henry Law remains ready, and you are still able to speak with an attorney if you have been injured. Our attorneys are available 24/7, nights and weekends.
If you have been injured in an accident and have questions concerning your options, or if you have any doubt that your current attorney will be able to properly represent you during COVID-19, call Thomas J. Henry immediately for a FREE case review.
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