Hand Washing: Why is it so important? Let's find out!

How many times have you heard someone at home ask you, 'Have you washed your hands today?' Probably several times a day, right? You must be wondering why the adults, that is, your mothers, fathers, teachers, doctors, etc., are so worried about washing their hands, why they like to lather up with soap and water so much. Simply put, this may seem like a small thing, but it is a great way to protect yourself, your family, and your friends from getting sick! Today, let's talk about why hand washing is so important for you, me, and all of us, along with how to wash your hands properly.

Why is hand washing so important?

Think about how many things you touch throughout the day. At school, your desk, books, pens, toys, your friends' hands, soil, leaves when you play outside, maybe your pet... Oh, and when you go to the toilet, you touch the door, the tap. You can't forget your phone, your tablet. In all these places, even though we can't see them, there can be tiny creatures, that is, germs . These germs are very small living things. Among them are bacteria and viruses that cause us diseases.

So, when you touch these things, those germs slowly get on your hands. Then what happens if you eat with those hands, blow your nose, or rub your eyes? Those germs easily enter your body through your mouth, nose, and eyes. That's when you start getting sick with colds, coughs, stomachaches, and fevers. Handwashing is like a checkpoint that stops these germs from traveling. When we wash our hands, these germs are washed away with soap. Then they have no way to get into our bodies.

Imagine, it's like you take off your dirty shoes at the door and enter the house, and then wash your hands to remove germs and eat food. The house is clean, and your body is healthy!

Not only that, if you don't wash your hands, the germs on your hands go everywhere you touch. If you touch the door, it goes to the door, if you put your hand on the table, it goes to the table. Then your sister, brother, mother, and father who touch those places can also get those germs. Have you seen how much of an impact something that seems like a small thing can have?

When exactly should we wash our hands?

Now you probably understand how important it is to wash your hands. But when is it really necessary to wash your hands? Here are some of those times:

• Whenever your hands look dirty: Sometimes we see dirt and paint on our hands. Then we definitely need to wash them.
• Before eating and while helping to prepare food: This is very important. If we unknowingly transfer germs from our hands to our stomachs, we cannot prevent illness. If you help your mother in the kitchen, you should wash your hands before cutting vegetables or making salads.
• After using the toilet: This is a no-brainer, right? The toilet is a place where germs can be found. So be sure to wash your hands with soap after using it.
• After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing: When we blow our nose, cough, or sneeze, germs get on our hands. If we touch something with those hands again, those germs can be transferred to others. Therefore, it is a good habit to blow your nose with a tissue, cover your mouth with your hand when coughing, and then wash your hands.
• After handling pets: You should also wash your hands after lovingly handling your dog, cat, or rabbit. Animals can carry germs that we can't see.
• After playing outside: The first thing you should do when you come home from running around in the garden, touching dirt, or climbing trees is to wash your hands.
• Before and after visiting a sick relative or friend: When visiting someone who is sick, we need to be careful not to give them more germs. Also, if we wash our hands after we leave, we are less likely to bring germs back with us.

These are the times when it's most important. But remember, if you ever think, "Oh, my hands look a little dirty," it's still best to wash your hands.

What's the Best Way to Wash Hands?

Okay, now we know why we should wash our hands and when we should wash them. But did you know that many people don't know how to wash their hands properly? Here are some easy steps to remember the next time you go to wash your hands:

1. First, wet your hands thoroughly with lukewarm water (not too hot, not too cold). You don't want very hot water, as it can sometimes dry out your hands.

2. Then get soap. You can use any type of soap you like. Some soaps come in pretty colors and scents. Any soap that you like and that makes you want to wash your hands is good. There are special types called antibacterial soaps, which are also good, but regular soap will do the job just fine. The most important thing is to use soap.

3. Now apply the soap to both hands and rub until it lathers. The top of the hands, the bottom of the hands, between the fingers, and the wrists are all good – you want to lather the soap all over. Don't forget to wash under your nails as well. Under your nails is a favorite place for germs to hide.

4. Rub thoroughly for about 20 seconds (about the time it takes to sing the Happy Birthday song twice). This time is very important. You need to give the soap and the scrub a little time to remove the germs. Just adding a little water won't remove the germs.

5. Then rinse thoroughly with water until all the soap suds are gone.

6. Finally, dry your hands thoroughly with a clean towel or tissue. Germs can easily stick to wet hands.

Remember that song "Happy Birthday"? A great way to tell time is to wash your hands while slowly singing it twice. If you're too lazy to sing the song, you can also count from 1 to 20!

What Happens If We Don't Wash Hands?

If we don't wash our hands, as mentioned earlier, germs will enter our bodies from our hands. What happens then?

• Very common illnesses: Colds, fever, coughs, sore throats, stomach upsets (like diarrhea), and vomiting can easily occur. These can make you unable to go to school, unable to play, and feel tired.
• Some serious illnesses: Some germs, for example, some types of bacteria, can cause serious illnesses like pneumonia. Hand washing can protect you from even these serious illnesses.
• It also affects others: If you don't wash your hands, you can spread germs to your family and schoolmates. These germs can be especially harmful to young children, the elderly, or those who are weak from other illnesses. If they get sick, it can take longer to recover. So, washing your hands not only protects you, but also everyone around you.

Simply put, not washing your hands is like inviting germs to "come, get on me, make me sick." None of us want to get sick, right?

A little story about soap and hand sanitizer

How does soap remove these germs? It's very simple. The chemicals in soap can remove germs and dirt from our hands. When we wash with water, those germs are washed away. That's why both rubbing with soap and washing with water are important.

Regular soap or antibacterial soaps?

In most cases, regular soap and water are enough to remove most germs. Antibacterial soaps contain additional chemicals that kill germs. However, overuse can sometimes kill good bacteria, and some germs can become resistant to these chemicals (a condition known as antibiotic resistance). Therefore, regular soap is usually sufficient for household use.

What about hand sanitizer?

Hand sanitizer is something you can use when soap and water are not available. For example, when you are on the bus or going to a store. However, there are a few things to keep in mind:

• If you have visible dirt or mud on your hands, hand sanitizer won't remove them properly. In that case, you should definitely wash them with soap and water.
• When choosing a hand sanitizer, make sure it contains at least 60% alcohol. This is the only way to effectively kill germs.
• Even when using sanitizer, you should apply it thoroughly to all surfaces of your hands and rub until dry.

That said, while `Hand Sanitizer` is a good solution in an emergency, there's nothing better than soap and water! It's best to wash your hands with soap and water whenever possible.

Things you need to remember (Take-Home Message)

So, we've talked a lot about handwashing today, haven't we? If you're having a hard time keeping all of this in your head, here's a few things to remember:

• Washing your hands is the simplest and best way to prevent illness. It protects you like a superhero!
• Germs are tiny creatures that we can't see, but they can be everywhere. We wash our hands to stop them from entering our bodies.
• Be sure to wash your hands before eating, after using the bathroom, and after playing.
• The correct way is to apply soap, rub well for about 20 seconds, rinse with water, and dry with a clean towel. Remember the "Happy Birthday" song!
• By washing your hands, you are not only protecting yourself, but also your family, friends, and everyone in your community from getting sick. It's like you're doing a big favor.

So, from now on, when someone asks you, "Did you wash your hands?", I hope you can smile and say, "Yes, I know how important it is!" To stay healthy and happy, let's continue this little habit!

` Hand washing, germs, health habits, disease prevention, soap, hand hygiene, Hand Washing