In the wake of media attention to the new super bugs and staph infections on the rise out there, and with another flu season already arriving, the public often
knows that hand washing is an important step in basic hygiene. Many go so far as to carry waterless hand sanitizers such as Purell or another name brand.
They are right to realize that hand washing is an important tool in reducing the spread of germs, transmitting them by touching items while sick or by touching computer keyboards, doors and other items where germs are frequently found.
But did you know that washing your hands can protect you from more than the latest superbug such as MRSA or staph variations? It should be an important part of your health routine for other reasons as well, including:
1 Reducing your exposure to lead. At this point, you may scoff, thinking that the odds of being exposed to lead are minimal. True, if your home was built after 1978, you probably don’t have to worry as much about lead exposure in or around your home. You may also be one of those smart consumers who has kept up with the recalls of toys containing lead, many which came from overseas. But don’t assume you are safe. If you go into neighborhoods with older home, especially those built before 1960, lead may lurk on old doors, around window frames, even in the ground. According to the Oct 18, 2007 Health section of U.S. News and World Report ( health.usnews.com/usnews/health/articles/070821/21toyrecall.htm), frequent hand-washing may well limit the amount of lead an individual can injest, taking it off hands and away from the mouth.
2. Helping you avoid extra risks from chemicals you use in the home. Even if you wear gloves, cleaning chemicals such as bleach can splash onto parts of your hands or seep under the gloves. To play it safe, wash your hands after cleaning with strong chemicals and even consider adding a shower to the process, reducing exposure even more.
3. Preventing food poisoning after touching or washing raw meat. Even if you think you are practicing safe hygiene in the kitchen, you should always wash your hands after touching raw meat or any food that could contain bacteria or germs. Why? Because once you’ve touched it, anything else you touch will also be at risk of harboring the germ, from sink to countertops. Play it safe. Wash your hands often while preparing recipes that start with uncooked beef, chicken, fish, etc. To add an extra layer of safety, try to use a paper towel or clean object to turn on the faucet or use a waterless hand sanitizer (again, pushing the pump with a towel or small tissue to avoid contact between skin and the pump).
4. Helping prevent allergens from entering the home. We learned this the hard way after walking through a patch of ragweed and then coming home, setting off a bout of coughing and major allergy symptoms in my husband, who hadn’t been with us but was exposed to all the allergens from the ragweed after we entered the house. Washing our hands or showering quickly after entering the house would have reduced that risk (and avoiding ragweed is now a part of our lifestyle). We now consult with our allergist for these and other tips to reduce speading exposure to allergens that land on our hands and other parts of our uncovered skin.
5. Lowering the risk of getting or spreading latex allergies. According to www.hse.gov.uk/latex/handwashing.htm
the Health and Safety Executive, latex proteins stay on your hands if you don’t wash your hands after taking gloves off. This means that you are not only at possible risk of contracting a latex allergy (linked to repeat exposure) but you could unwittingly set off an allergy in vulnerable individuals. Nurses and doctors often wash their hands after wearing gloves for just this reason and you should too. Besides, the chemicals you are trying to protect yourself from if you wear gloves may well get onto your hands as you take off the gloves. So play it safe yet again.
6. Lowering the risk of spreading food allergies – If you touch a vulnerable person after eating or touching cooked shellfish or peanuts (two foods which cause allergic reaction in many people), they could have a reaction. . Play it safe by washing your hands after handling foods which are often associated with allergic reactions. If you have questions, contact your allergist for a list of common allergens or look here: www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/ffalrgn.html
This site is run by the Food and Drug Administration. Milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat and soybeans account for over 90 percent of all allegies so be especially careful when handling these foods. Ask people about their allergies so you are prepared and can plan meals with people’s needs in mind, not exposing anyone to food allergens during special events, birthdays, holidays and other occasions.
Finally, getting back to what has been on people’s minds and in the news lately, washing your hands can also help reduce your risk of getting flu, superbugs like MRSA, a particularly drug-resistant form of staph and other diseases. But the benefits of frequent hand-washing go beyond that, as the above information indicates. So stock up on the antibacterial soaps and waterless hand sanitizers, consider carrying them in your car and in purses and have a safe and healthy winter and holiday season – and all year round.
