Avoid Getting Sick, Wash Your Hands Like A Doctor

SAN BERNARDINO>> "Clean hands save lives." It is a simple message repeated by health care providers and agencies, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), daily. "Keeping hands clean is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of infection and illness, such as the common cold and influenza," said Dr. Albert Arteaga, president of LaSalle Medical Associates. As you touch people, surfaces, pets and objects, you accumulate germs on your hands, and although it is impossible to keep your hands germ-free, washing your hands frequently can help limit the transfer of germs. According to the CDC, a third of adults in the U.S. do not wash their hands after using the bathroom, and in four adults do not wash their hands after changing a diaper. Less than half of Americans wash their hands after cleaning after pets, and a third of adults do not wash their hands after sneezing or coughing. The best way to effectively eliminate most germs, Arteaga said, is to wash your hands with soap and water for about 15 to 20 seconds, followed by a good rinse. "Be sure to wash the backs of your hands, between your fingers where germs can hide, and under your fingernails," Arteaga said. “You must scrub your hands vigorously for at least 15 to 20 seconds to remove germs.” For those concerned about time, Arteaga suggests looking no further than the “ABC Song.” He says, singing the “ABC Song,” which is about 20 seconds in length, is not only effective in timing your own hand washing but is a unique way to help children develop their vocabulary skills and understand the importance of proper hand washing. “Repetition is the mother of conversation," he said. “The more you repeat something, the more it becomes ingrained in you to do it. So we must continue to instruct people on the proper way to wash their hands so that they don’t forget.”