Staying Safe is in Your Hands
Staying Safe is in Your Hands
I’ve been here for a decade
I decrease the risk of spreading infection
I even prevent skin dryness
But today, I have become an obsession
Who am I?
As the novel coronavirus has taken the world into its grip, one thing that is being constantly reminded, along with other preventive measures to safeguard oneself from COVID-19, is a good hand hygiene practice.
With no cure available as yet, the World Health Organization (WHO) has asked people to ‘Regularly and thoroughly clean hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water’ to keep the novel coronavirus at bay.
On the other hand, the US-based Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds at regular intervals, especially after going to the bathroom, after throwing garbage, after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing, touching any surface exposed to bacteria or when you come from outside.
Why is washing hands important?
According to health experts, the virus can stay on different solid surfaces for long hours that are constantly touched with hands. Therefore, frequent hand rubbing using an alcohol-based sanitiser is being asked.
Though washing hands with a sanitiser reduces the number of microbes, it does not remove these completely. Hence, soap and water are considered much effective in this case. Since we can’t carry water and soap everywhere, hand sanitiser is our best partner.
To Know More: The Face Mask is the New Safety Gear to Wear
How to Use?
Apply the disinfectant gel over both the palms, at the backs of hands and in between the fingers, rub hands together for about 20 seconds until they feel dry. Do not rinse or wipe off the sanitizer before it’s dry.
Advantages of using hand sanitizer
An alcohol-based hand sanitizers can quickly reduce the number of germs on your hands but take care to clean soiled or greasy hands first to reap the maximum benefit of the sanitizer.
P.S: Never ever buy alcohol-free hand sanitisers. They are useless. Only use a hand sanitiser with at least 60-70 per cent alcohol.
Wrapping up
The government is taking all the necessary steps to tackle the global crisis of COVID-19. We can play our part by staying at home, practicing social distancing and washing our hands.
Wash and scrub your hands for 20 seconds – and if you feel it’s time taking, hum ‘Happy Birthday’ or any nursery rhyme in your head twice.
Once the song is over, take the time to dry your hands thoroughly. Last but not the least, ‘try to avoid touching your eyes, mouth and nose frequently.’
FAQs
For how long can a hand sanitizer provide protection against germs?
They don’t provide protection for long. Hand sanitizers will kill whatever is on your hands at that moment but once you touch something else dirty, you are required to clean your hands again.
Is sanitizing hand the only option against virus and germs?
No. Regular sanitizing won’t be much effective if the things in your home are not sanitized.
Are there any precautions to take while using hand sanitizer?
Read the ‘Directions to use’ carefully and never ever swallow or smell it. Keep it away from the reach of kids.
Is there any other way a hand sanitizer can be used?
Yes, it can be used to clean the phone screen, glasses and window panes. You can also clean your makeup brushes with the sanitizer to avoid infection, apply on a pimple to dry it away or on a mosquito bite to stop itching.
So grab a bottle now and get set go safely.
