So you thought you knew all there was about hand washing. With the recent H1N1 virus pandemic, the most important step that you can take to prevent transmission is hand washing and this video put together by the Centers for Disease Control will help ensure that your washing your hands thoroughly and correctly. Approximately 80% of all infections are transmitted through the hands, so sit back, relax, and watch this video on proper hand washing techniques.

According to the CDC, people are neither washing their hands correctly or as often as needed to kill germs. Proper hand washing techniques are important for adults and children as well. Children spread a great deal of germs through their hands and studies show that the H1N1 virus is capable of living up to 2 hours on inanimate objects. Viruses may also live on the hands for a great deal of time and understanding how to wash your hands correctly is the best method for removing those germs and viruses and preventing transmission and infection.

When compared to hand sanitizers, washing hands with soap and water is preferable. As stated by Dr. Michael Beach, hand sanitizers are incapable of removing dirt and debris from the hands. It’s important to wash hands for at least 20 seconds to effectively remove germs, bacteria, and viruses. Teaching children to sing the song, Happy Birthday twice while washing hands will ensure that they wash for the appropriate length of time.

Some have asked if hand washing is effective if the user is without access to hot water. As long as the water is clean, the temperature is not of great importance.  However, the CDC recommends using warm water, but that cool water will suffice. If there is no access to clean water then using an alcohol based hand sanitizer is preferred.
 

H1N1 virus and How to Wash Your Hands

Source: CDC More News Headlines H1N1 vaccine, immunity and egg allergies