National Handwashing Awareness Week, which takes place between December 1 and December 7 in 2021, is a time to remind ourselves of the importance of proper handwashing.
 

Why Should You Practice Handwashing?

Washing your hands is one of the top ways to prevent illness. Ignaz Semmelweis was the pioneer of handwashing in 1846 when he noticed that there were differences in rates of illness in maternity wards. Noticing that the ward in which doctors and students delivered babies had higher rates of illness, he realized that these doctors and students had been doing autopsies before working in the maternity ward. He concluded that there was a link between handling cadavers and higher chances of sickness. After mandating handwashing for doctors, the number of deaths and rates of illness fell sharply.

Unfortunately, this practice was unpopular because it went against the prevailing notion that water caused disease. Semmelweis was ahead of his time, and handwashing would not catch on until over a century later.
 

What Is the Proper Way To Practice Handwashing?

1.Using running, clean, and warm water, wet your hands and apply soap.

2.Thoroughly rub your hands together, making sure to cover your fingers, the backs of your hands, your palms, and your wrists. Do this for about 20 seconds.

3.Clean the surfaces underneath your fingernails.

4.Rinse all the soap off.

5.Dry your hands with something clean like a paper towel or use an air dryer.

6.Using a paper towel, turn off the faucet.

Using soap and water is the ideal way to practice handwashing, but if these are unavailable, you can use hand sanitizer, which you should rub between your hands and across all hand and wrist surfaces until it’s dry.
 

When Should You Practice Handwashing?

The CDC offers general rules for when you should wash your hands.
 

• Any time your hands are dirty

• After touching garbage or anything that may be unsanitary

• After coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose

• After handling animals

• After using the restroom

• Before and after treating wounds, sores, or cuts

• Before eating meals

• Before preparing meals
   

There are other times you should wash your hands, too, so don’t take this as a complete list. Any time your hands come into contact with germs or when your hands need to be sanitary is a good time to practice handwashing.
 

Celebrate National Handwashing Awareness Week with Us

We do a lot of handwashing at Pediatric Dental Group, where we give hand sanitation the attention it deserves. Here, promoting the oral health of your child is our mission. Contact us to schedule your child’s next dental appointment.