Back to School, Back to Germs: Doctors Stress the Importance of Handwashing

(KNSI) – Students are back in the classroom and before we know it, the cold and flu season will start ramping up.

Doctors say germs and bacteria are everywhere and good handwashing hygiene minimizes the risk of getting sick. There are several ways germs can enter the body such as through the eyes, nose and mouth, so it’s important to avoid touching these areas with unclean hands.

Handwashing is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of germs, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Keeping hands clean can prevent stomach illnesses and one in five respiratory infections like a cold or the flu, lessening the number of days kids miss school and parents miss work.

Experts say use warm water because it’s better at removing oils, germs and other soil from hands. Scrub for at least 20 seconds with soap, forming suds and bubbles. Singing “Happy Birthday” or going through the ABCs twice is a good way to know the scrubbing is thorough.

The CDC recommends handwashing with soap and water before, during and after meal prep, before and after eating, before and after caring for a sick person who has been vomiting or having diarrhea, before and after wound care, and after using the restroom. Washing hands after changing diapers or helping a child using the toilet, after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing, after touching animals, handling pet food, and after touching the garbage are all important to stop the spread of illness causing germs and bacteria.

When handwashing isn’t an option, hand sanitizers can help reduce the number of germs on your hands. However, hand sanitizers are less effective at killing things like norovirus, clostridium difficil — commonly referred to as C. diff, giardia and several other germs.

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