Good hygiene habits start in childhood and hand washing is part of it. And it is so important that we certainly remember phrases that were repeated to us and that continue to be part of our daily discourse in the education of children. Wash your hands before you eating, do not leave the bathroom without washing your hands, do not forget to wash your hands when you get home, do not touch your face without washing your hands, and so many others. As with many tasks, it is not always easy to quickly achieve the objectives in hand washing . However, what is needed is always the same: Start early and explain as best as possible; Be patient and repeat as often as necessary; Teach by example. Start early Hand washing is a habit children must start as early as possible. It should be a routine and can even be a fun activity . After all, children usually like playing with water. Explaining children that washing hands does much more than having clean hands will be later: Hand washing is one of the most important disease prevention measures at any age; It eliminates disease-causing microorganisms that may be on the hands and cannot be seen with the naked eye, preventing them from causing disease to oneself or being transmitted to other people. Understanding the importance of hand washing helps to adopt good practices and maintain it throughout life. Where do microbes come from? Microbes that can be on the hands and cause disease mainly originate from: Feces , both of people and animals; Body secretions when we are sick, for example in a runny nose when there is a respiratory infection, or in a discharge from the eye when there is conjunctivitis. These microbes can reach the hands either through direct contact with feces or body secretions, or through contact of the hands with objects that have been previously contaminated . Surfaces that are frequently touched and used by multiple people are therefore very important. How do hands transmit diseases? If there are microbes on our hands, it is easy for us to become infected or to transmit them to other people, for example: Through the mucous of the mouth, nose or eyes, because even without realizing it, we touch our face with our hands several times a day; Contaminating objects or food when we touch them. Afterwards, other people will get microbes on their hands when they handle these objects or when they eat the foods. A lot of patience It is easy to get kids wash their hands whenever there is visible dirt. Have to wash hands in other circumstances, and for something they cannot see, it will not be so simple. Explaining is important but being patient and repeating directions is critical to success. Always wash your hands : When you see that they are dirty; When you get home; Before and after being with someone who is sick; Before : Eating or handling food; Touching your mouth, eyes or nose; Touching a wound. After : Using the bathroom; Petting or playing with animals or touching their food or bedding; Sneezing, coughing, or blowing your nose; Playing in public places; Handling garbage or anything that is dirty. It is also very important to facilitate access: Ensure that children can reach the sink well enough to be able to wash their hands , either on a lap, or with a suitable stool when they can safely wash their hands on their own. To be a model It is simpler for children to learn by seeing what is done at home, at school, or elsewhere, than by just being told to do something. Practicing what you say is the best way to communicate the importance of hand washing and getting children to repeat it. So: Wash your hands frequently and show children that you do so on all occasions that you mention are important to wash their hands. And wash your hands well , in the correct sequence and for the necessary time: Wet hands with clean water; Put a little soap in the palm of your hands and rub for the necessary time (singing happy birthday twice): the palms of the hands, the backs of the hands, between the fingers, check for dirt under the nails (if any you should brush your nails and wash your hands afterwards); Rinse with clean water until all traces of soap or foam are removed; Shake off excess water and wipe your hands with a clean towel or cloth. Washing hands saves lives Washing hands protects 1 in 3 children from having diarrhea and 1 in 5 children from having respiratory infections. It is well known that educating communities on handwashing substantially reduces the number of people who fall ill, mainly with gastrointestinal illnesses such as diarrhea and respiratory illnesses such as covid-19, flu, colds and pneumonia. Still, the global rate of hand washing after using the toilet is estimated to be only 19%. Sources Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Show me the science: Why wash your hands?
