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Handwashing - why it's important

Anumberofinfectiousdiseasescanbespreadfromonepersontoanotherbycontaminatedhands, particularlygastrointestinalinfections,influenzaandhepatitisA.Washingyourhandsproperlycan helppreventthespreadoftheorganismsthatcausethesediseases. Someformsofgastroenteritiscancauseseriouscomplications,especiallyforyoungchildren,the elderly,orthosewithaweakenedimmunesystem.Dryingyourhandsproperlyisasimportantas washingthem.

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When to wash your hands

Youshouldwashyourhandsthoroughly: Beforepreparingfood Beforeeating Betweenhandlingrawandcookedorready-to-eatfood Aftergoingtothetoiletorchangingnappies Aftersmoking Afterusingatissueorhandkerchief Afterhandlingrubbishorworkinginthegarden Afterhandlinganimals Afterattendingtosickchildrenorotherfamilymembers.

How to wash your hands properly

Towashhandsproperly: Wetyourhandswithwarmwater. Applyonedoseofliquidsoapandlather(wash)wellfor1520seconds(orlongerifthe dirtisingrained). Rubhandstogetherrapidlyacrossallsurfacesofyourhandsandwriststohelpremovedirt andgerms. Dontforgetthebacksofyourhands,yourwrists,betweenyourfingersandunderyour fingernails. Ifpossible,removeringsandwatchesbeforeyouwashyourhands,orensureyoumove theringstowashunderthem,asmicroorganismscanexistunderthem. Rinsewellunderrunningwaterandmakesurealltracesofsoapareremoved,asresidues maycauseirritation. Patyourhandsdryusingpapertowels(orsingle-useclothtowels).Makesureyourhands arethoroughlydry. Dryunderanyringsyouwear,astheycanbeasourceoffuturecontaminationifthey remainmoist. Hotairdrierscanbeusedbut,again,youshouldensureyourhandsarethoroughlydry. Athome,giveeachfamilymembertheirowntowelandwashthetowelsoften.

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Howtowashanddryhandswithliquidsoapandwater(Clicktoopenlargerimage)

Use warm water

Coldwaterisbetterthannowateratallforaone-offhandwash,butshouldnotbeusedfor routinehandwashing.Soaplathers(soapsup)betterwithwarmwater.Theactiveingredientson thesurfaceofthesoaparereleasedmoreeasily,makingthemmoreeffectiveincleaningyour handsofdirt,greaseandoils,withoutstrippingawaythenaturaloilsinyourskin.Usingcoldorhot watercanalsodamagetheskinsnaturaloils.Overtime,thiscancausedermatitis.

Soap is important
Soapcontainsingredientsthatwillhelpto: Loosendirtonyourhands. Softenwater,makingiteasiertolatherthesoapoveryourhands. Rinseyourhands,leavingnoresiduestoirritateanddryyourskin.

SoapscanhavedifferentpHtheymaybeneutral,slightlyalkalineorslightlyacidic.Thatswhy somesoapsirritatesomepeopleandnotothers.Perfumesinsoapcanbeanotherreasonwhy somepeoplehaveskinreactions.

Liquid soap is best

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Generally,itisbettertouseliquidsoapthanbarsoap,particularlyatwork.Thebenefitsofliquid soapinclude: Hygieneitislesslikelytobecontaminated. Right amountliquidsoapdispensersdonotdispensemorethanrequired(moreisnot better). Less wasteitseasiertouse,withlesswastage.Drop-incassettedispensersuseallthe soap. Saves timeliquidsoapdispensersareeasyandefficienttouse.

Disposableliquidsoapcassettesareconvenient,asyoudonothavetowashandthoroughlydry therefillablecontainerbeforerefilling.Ifyouwanttouserefillablecontainers,theymustnotbe toppedup.Whentheyareempty,theymustbethoroughlycleanedanddriedbeforetheyare refilledtoavoidcontamination. Athome,refillabledispensersaremorelikelytobeusedratherthandrop-incassettes,whichare designedforcommercialuse.

The problems with bar soap particularly in public places

Therearemanyreasonswhybarsoapcanbeaproblem,particularlyifitsusedbyalotofpeople. Theseproblemsinclude: Barsoapcansitinpoolsofwaterandbecomecontaminatedwithmanyharmfulgerms. Peoplearelesslikelytousebarsoapifitismessyfromsittinginwater. Contaminatedsoapmayspreadgermsandmaybemoreharmfulthannotwashingyour hands. Barsoapcandryoutpeoplearelesslikelytouseittowashtheirhandsbecauseitis difficulttolather. Dried-outbarsoapwilldevelopcracks,whichcanharbourdirtandgerms.Again,youmay beaddingmoreharmfulgermstoyourhandsthanyouweretryingtoremove.

Itsfinetousebarsoapathome,butitmighthelptokeepitonasoaprack(soitsnotsittingina poolofwater)andchangeitifitbecomesoldandcracked.

Take care of your hands

Handwashingisonlyonepartofhandhygiene.Lookingafteryourskingenerallyisimportant,as yourskinistheperfectbarrieragainstinfection.Afteryourhandshavebeendriedthoroughly,you canhelptolookafteryourhandsifyou: Applyawater-basedabsorbenthandcreamthreetofourtimesaday,ormorefrequentlyif yourhandsareconstantlyinwater. Useglovestowashdishestoprotectyourhands. Usegloveswhengardeningtopreventabuild-upofingrainedsoilorscratches. Consultadoctorifaskinirritationdevelopsorcontinues.

Where to get help

Yourdoctor Yourlocalcouncilshealthdepartment

Things to remember

Properhandwashingcanprotectyouandothersfromarangeofdiseases. Liquidsoapisbetterthanbarsoap,especiallyatwork. Washanddryyourhandscarefully.

This page has been produced in consultation with, and approved by:

DepartmentofHealth-CommunicableDiseasePreventionandControlUnit

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Contentonthiswebsiteisprovidedforeducationandinformationpurposesonly.Information aboutatherapy,service,productortreatmentdoesnotimplyendorsementandisnotintendedto replaceadvicefromyourdoctororotherregisteredhealthprofessional.Contenthasbeen preparedforVictorianresidentsandwiderAustralianaudiences,andwasaccurateatthetimeof publication.Readersshouldnotethat,overtime,currencyandcompletenessoftheinformation maychange.Allusersareurgedtoalwaysseekadvicefromaregisteredhealthcareprofessional fordiagnosisandanswerstotheirmedicalquestions. Forthelatestupdatesandmoreinformation,visitwww.betterhealth.vic.gov.au Copyight 1999/2013StateofVictoria.ReproducedfromtheBetterHealthChannel (www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au)atnocostwithpermissionoftheVictorianMinisterforHealth. Unauthorisedreproductionandotherusescomprisedinthecopyrightareprohibitedwithout permission.

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