Clean Hands: Reducing the Risk of Disease
- Jeronnie Richardson (MBA)
- Feb 17, 2021
- 3 min read
We tend to think of hospitals as “clean” or “sterile” — but the more honest words are often “germs” and “superbugs”. Study after study has measured how much bacteria collects on the objects we touch most — door handles, biometric clock-in devices, railings, water coolers, phones — and the risk of cross-contamination those surfaces carry. The takeaway is simple: hand hygiene matters, and frequently touched surfaces need cleaning far more often than we think.
Is it really necessary to wash your hands?
In a word, yes. Handwashing is the single best way to prevent the spread of infection. Germs pass from person to person through ordinary contact, and we pick them up from contaminated surfaces and then touch our own face — mouth, eyes and nose. Good technique means using enough soap, rubbing the hands together to create friction, and rinsing under running water. Wearing gloves is not a substitute for washing your hands.
When should I wash my hands?
Common moments when hands pick up germs include:
Before touching your eyes, nose, mouth or face
Whenever hands are visibly soiled
After using the washroom (including changing nappies or assisting someone)
After blowing your nose or sneezing into your hands
Before and after eating, handling food, drinking or smoking
After handling raw meat, poultry or fish
After handling garbage or touching contaminated surfaces
Before and after visiting or caring for someone who is sick
Before preparing or taking medication
Before and after treating a cut or wound
Before inserting or removing contact lenses
After handling pets, animals, animal waste or pet food
During a pandemic it is especially important to wash regularly — including after being in any public or commercial space (a supermarket or pharmacy, say) or touching frequently handled surfaces such as doors and payment machines. Wash for at least 20 seconds, longer if hands are visibly dirty. A handy trick for children is to hum a short tune like “Happy Birthday” twice while they scrub.
How do I wash my hands properly?
For effective handwashing:
Remove any rings or other jewellery
Wet your hands thoroughly with water
Apply soap (about 1–3 mL) and lather well
Lather for at least 20 seconds — between the fingers, under the nails, the front and back of the hands, wrists and forearms
Rinse thoroughly under clean, running water using a rubbing motion
Dry with a paper towel, a clean towel, or an air dryer
Turn off the taps with a paper towel so you don't re-contaminate your hands
Use that same towel to open the door on your way out
What about antibacterial soaps and hand sanitisers?
For most everyday situations, ordinary soap and water is enough — antibacterial soaps are generally unnecessary outside specialised hospital settings. When soap and water aren't available, an alcohol-based hand sanitiser containing at least 60% alcohol is a good alternative: apply enough to cover all of your hands and fingers, then rub until dry. Note that sanitisers are far less effective when hands are heavily soiled with dirt, blood or other material — in those cases, wash with soap and water.
What to do in quarantine?
This one's the easiest of all: don't get bored. Tune in to JSRtv and enjoy clean, family-focused entertainment — music videos, educational content, news and talk shows. Download our Android app from the Google Play Store and forget about boredom. And of course, stay put until you've been cleared by your local health service.
This piece draws on hand-hygiene guidance from the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) OSH Answers. For full medical guidance, please consult a qualified health professional or your local health authority.
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