Guest Author - Jaclyn Michelle Kratzer
I know I have been missing in action for awhile, but as I sit here battling a cold and a sinus infection, I cant think of how I can tell you how lucky I have been in the last few months thinking that I did not get that dreaded flu that went around. If this is the worst that I get this year I will be happy.
It is hard to keep your family healthy this time of year. Lets take a look at the things that can help keep the germs away. Did you know that there is a process to hand washing correctly? No, well, there is. According to http://www.hi-tm.com/Documents/Safehands.html the following is the proper way to wash your hands if you work in the heath care or food preparation field. However, this can also help at home to prevent the spread of germs. I have found it helpful to me both at work and at home. See below for the proper procedure.
The double wash procedure utilizes a fingernail brush, hand soap or detergent, and warm, flowing water. The procedure is as follows:
First wash using the nail brush
1. Turn on water so that it runs at 2 gallons per minute with a temperature of 110 to 115F. Place the hands and fingernail brush under flowing water to thoroughly wet the surface of the fingernail brush, hands, and lower arms.
2. Apply an adequate amount [1/2 to 1 teaspoon (2-1/2 to 5 ml)] of hand soap or detergent to the fingernail brush (enough to ensure a good lather).
3. Brush and lather hand surfaces with the tips of the bristles on the nail brush under the flowing water, particularly fingertips, and around and under fingernails. Build a good lather.
4. Continue to use the fingernail brush under the water until there is no more soapy lather on the hands and the nail brush. Place the nail brush on a holder with the bristles up so that the bristles can dry. [Rinsing the lather off the hands is the critical control. Hazardous microorganisms are in the lather, and these microorganisms are only removed to a safe level when all the soap is rinsed off the hands, arms and fingertips.]
Second wash - without the nail brush
5. Apply a sufficient amount of soap or detergent [1/2 to 1 teaspoon (2-1/2 to 5 ml)] to produce a good lather.
6. While adding water as necessary, rub the hands together to produce a good lather from the wrists to the fingertips, and the up the arms to the tips of the sleeves.
7. In warm, flowing water, thoroughly lather the hands. Then rinse all of the lather from the fingertips, hands, and arms.
8. Thoroughly dry hands and arms using paper towels. Discard paper towels in waste container without touching the container. Drying hands with paper towels removes and reduces the number of microorganisms on hand surfaces another 100 to 1.
It is mandatory to double wash hands to remove possible fecal pathogens and other pathogenic microorganisms from skin surfaces:
Upon beginning a work shift.
When entering the kitchen.
After using the toilet.
After cleaning up vomitus or any fecal material.
After touching sores or bandages.
The single wash procedure is the same as the second part of the double wash procedure (steps 5, 6, 7, and 8). Hands and lower arms are wet with water. Soap is applied to hand surfaces and a lather is produced by rubbing the skin surfaces together. Lathering must extend from between fingers to up the shirt sleeves. (A fingernail brush is not used for single hand washing.) After lathering, hands are rinsed in flowing water and dried with a disposable paper towel.
It is mandatory to use the single wash procedure to wash hands to remove normal low levels of pathogens:
Before and after coffee, food, or cigarette breaks.
After handling garbage.
After handling dirty dishes or utensils.
Between handling raw and cooked foods.
After blowing nose.
After touching skin, hair, beard, or soiled apron.
As often as necessary to keep hands clean after they become soiled.
Wearing gloves when touching personal items can help prevent the spread of germs as well.
Come back next month for more on Family Health!!
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