Teaching children how to properly wash their hands is extremely important. Not only preventing diseases from spreading through normal contact surfaces, keeping your hands clean will also help your children reduce the incidence of disease in the middle of the raging COVID-19 (nCoV) epidemic!
The importance of teaching children how to wash their hands properly
This is considered a "self-made armor" that protects us against potential pathogens.
Why need to wash hands properly?
Limit the possibility of infection with viruses, bacteria causing disease
The hands are a wonderful part of the human being. Thanks to our hands, we can be flexible in work and life. Holding, holding, throwing, catching, picking, lifting, ... all need hands. It is that flexibility that makes people more susceptible to infection. More and more dangerous diseases are spread by over-contact with common surfaces .
On human hands, there exist countless bacteria. In 1938, Price PB divided the bacteria on the skin of the hands into two groups.
Settlement of bacteria
These are bacteria that normally reside in the deep layers of the epidermis. This group of bacteria includes gram (+) cocci (S. epidermidis, S. aurers, ..) and gram bacteria (-) (Acinetobacter, Enterobacter, ...). We cannot get rid of this bacteria in the conventional way. However, proper and frequent hand washing will reduce the level of bacteria on hands.
Bacteria present
These are bacteria located on surfaces that come into contact with hands. Regular hand washing will easily remove this group of bacteria.
Health protection
Bacteria exist everywhere, in all situations and environments around us. Therefore, any action done by hand can spread germs. Brushing eyes, mouth, face with unclean hands, ... is much more dangerous than you might think.
Currently, about 84-88% of the world's population do not wash their hands with soap before eating and drinking, after using the toilet. The number obtained after a survey by the United Nations Children's Fund startles parents.
Proper hand washing with soap before eating and after using the toilet can:
Reduce the number of diarrhea cases in the world
The number of deaths due to pneumonia decreased ½
Respiratory diseases decreased giảm
Limit the rate of antibiotic resistance
When to wash hands?
Washing your hands at the right time will help prevent infection and the spread of bacteria. Usually, we should wash our hands whenever we feel our hands are dirty. Specifically, we should wash our hands:
After coughing or sneezing into hands or after touching pets or toys;
Immediately after handling the waste
After using the toilet
Before, during, after cooking and before eating
Right before and after taking care of the patient, treating the wound, injecting drugs, ...
Before wearing or removing contact lenses
Teach your child how to properly wash hands with 6 easy steps
Prepare
Clean water tap
Disposable hand wipes
Perform 6 simple hand washing steps
Wet your palms with water, use soap on palms. Rub your palms together.
Then, rub one palm on the back of the other and vice versa.
Rub your palms together, squeezing your fingers firmly between your fingers.
Next, rub the backs of your fingers against the palm of the other hand and vice versa (the back of your hand to camber into the palm of your hand).
Rub the thumb of one hand against the palm of the other and vice versa (palm embracing thumb).
Finally, rub the tips of one finger against the palm of the other hand and vice versa. Wash your hands under wrist running water and dry them.
Note: Wash your hands for at least 30 seconds, repeat each operation at least 5 times.
In case you need a kip, you can give your child an alcohol-based handrub. According to WHO guidelines, this option will eliminate most pathogens, save time, tolerate skin well, do not need supportive equipment (clean water, hand sink, soap, wiper). WHO also recommends that soap and alcohol-based handrubs not be used consecutively.
Teaching children how to properly wash their hands contributes to their health! Instead of trying to apply many other supportive measures, parents should teach their children how to protect themselves, especially when the COVID-19 epidemic is rampant.
See more:
How do children with influenza A manifest? Mom found out immediately lest it is late!
101 important facts about Corona moms need to know!
How to teach children to wear a Corona prevention mask