Doctors, nurses and especially moms know that in order to decrease the spread of bacteria or germs that cause illness, hands must be washed frequently. Soap and water does a good job at removing surface dirt and is necessary if hands are visibly soiled, yet to kill bacteria, both soap and water and an alcohol-based hand sanitizer are effective as long as they are used properly.
Hand Washing Technique
Proper hand washing technique not only kills the bacteria on your hands but will prevent the recontamination of hands after washing. Prior to washing hands, determine how you will be drying your hands. If you will be using paper towels and not an air dryer, then begin the process by dispensing a clean paper towel. This way, hands stay clean after washing and germs from a contaminated paper towel dispenser handle do not get on hands.
After dispensing a paper towel turn on the water and allow the water to run throughout the hand washing process. Wet hands thoroughly and apply soap. Begin lathering or rubbing the soap between your hands vigorously for a minimum of 20 seconds. Be sure to wash both wrists, the backs of the hands, between fingers, under watch bands, rings or other jewelry, and under the tips of fingernails. Some people mentally time the 20 seconds by singing the song "Happy Birthday" two or three times in a row. Teaching children to sing "Happy Birthday" while washing their hands helps them know how long to wash their hands. Be sure to rinse soap off of hands completely before drying.
Finally dry hands with the paper towel you dispensed before beginning and if another paper towel is necessary, use the original paper towel to dispense the next one. Also use a paper towel to turn off the faucet and open the bathroom door when leaving. Then dispose of paper towels properly. Many facilities now provide a waste receptacle for paper towels next to the bathroom door.
Antibacterial Versus Regular Soap
You may be wondering if it is better to use antibacterial soap when washing hands. Well, according to websites like the Mayo Clinic, using an antibacterial soap is not necessarily more effective than regular soap and may instead be creating a bigger problem. Antibacterial soap may be causing bacteria or germs to become stronger and build up a resistance to the antimicrobial agents found in the antibacterial soap. This means using an antibacterial soap could be making germs stronger and harder to kill.
Instead of using an antibacterial soap, simply wash hands properly and frequently throughout the day, especially before eating, drinking, or preparing food. Also wash hands after coughing, sneezing, blowing your nose, smoking, toileting, doing chores, taking out garbage, playing with pets, or preparing food (especially poultry or raw eggs which can cause salmonella) and anytime hands are visibly dirty. Rarely can one wash their hands too often.
Using Hand Sanitizer
When soap and water are not available, an alcohol-based no rinse hand sanitizer is an effective substitution, provided it contains ethyl or isopropyl alcohol in concentrations of 60 to 95% according to Web MD. When using an alcohol based no rinse hand sanitizer apply a small amount (thumbnail size) to wet both hands and briskly rub into your hands, including both wrists, the back of hands, between fingers, under watch bands, rings or other jewelry, and under the tips of fingernails, until the product dries completely.
While hand sanitizers will not remove surface dirt from hands, the alcohol in hand sanitizers is highly effective at killing bacteria and, depending on the alcohol concentration, may actually be more effective in killing germs than soap and water alone. While the verdict is still out on which is more effective in killing bacteria, it is important to wash hands with soap and water or use an alcohol-based sanitizer throughout the day, especially during the cold and flu season.
Remember to keep all cleaning supplies including soap and hand sanitizers out of the reach of children to prevent accidental ingestion or poisoning. In the event of accidental ingestion call the American Association of Poison Control Hotline at 1-800-222-1222.
Sources:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Clean Hands Save Lives.” (Accessed 15th September 2010)
The Mayo Clinic. “Hand washing: Do’s and don’ts.” (Accessed 15th September 2010)
WebMD. “Prevent Colds With Hand Washing.” (Accessed 15th September 2010)
Erika Lyn Smith - Erika Lyn Smith - is a Psych RN, who has completed the UMSL Medicolegal Death Investigator Training Course, and is finishing a BS in ...
