In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important for everyone to take precautions to prevent the transmission of the corona virus. There are many efforts that can be made to prevent transmission of the corona virus, starting from the discipline of wearing masks when doing activities in public places, implementing physical distancing , and washing hands regularly.
The world health agency, the World Health Organization (WHO) has stated the important role of hand washing in suppressing the spread of the corona virus and other infectious diseases. However, hand washing needs to be done properly and according to recommendations to be effective in efforts to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases. If we don't wash our hands properly, bacteria and viruses can still stick to the surfaces of our hands and have the potential to cause disease if they enter the body.
There are several mistakes that are commonly found in the process of washing hands, it's good to understand so that we avoid the habit of washing hands that are less effective.
- Washing hands in too short a time
Most people wash their hands in a short time, which is about six seconds. In fact, according to a study from the Center for Disease Control, it takes at least 20 seconds (around 20-60 seconds) for the process of washing hands to be effective in killing bacteria and viruses. Therefore, start making it a habit to wash your hands using running water and soap for at least 20 seconds for better hand hygiene.
- Ignore finger and nail crevices
Rubbing your palms or the back of your hand alone is not sufficient for optimal hand hygiene. Finger and nail gaps are often a nesting place for viruses and bacteria. Therefore, it is advisable to always scrub all parts of the hands starting from the palms, the back of the hands, the gaps between the fingers, and the nails for optimal hand hygiene.
- Do not wash your hands immediately after activities in public spaces
Hand washing is usually done after certain activities, such as before preparing food, after going to the toilet, after coughing/sneezing, after changing a baby's diaper, or after taking out the trash. During the COVID-19 pandemic, hand washing should be done as often as possible, especially after doing activities in public spaces and touching public facilities, such as elevator buttons, door handles, ATMs, or KRL handle grips . If we are outside and cannot use water and soap, hand sanitizer can be used to clean hands from viruses and bacteria. Wash your hands immediately with water and soap when you get home.
- Immediately touch sink faucets and other objects after washing hands
We may often immediately touch other objects after washing our hands, including closing the sink faucet. In fact, the surface of the sink faucet that we touch can be unhygienic so that it can expose your hands to bacteria or viruses again. Try closing the faucet with your elbow or using toilet paper.
Don't forget to be diligent in cleaning small objects in the bathroom that we often touch, such as sink faucets, light switches, and bathroom door handles.
- Do not dry your hands after washing
Maybe this one thing sounds trivial, but drying your hands after washing them can prevent the proliferation of bacteria in the moist palm area. The best option for drying your hands is to use a paper towel or air dryer, making sure the entire area is well dried.
Those are some things we need to avoid in our daily hand washing practice, so that the main goal of preventing the transmission of the corona virus can be achieved. The habit of maintaining hand hygiene needs to be continued, even if the COVID-19 pandemic is over so that we can still avoid other infectious diseases caused by viruses and bacteria. Don't forget to invite family members to always maintain hand hygiene and other healthy living habits.