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Using hand soap while
following good hand washing habits will help rid your hands
of bacteria and help assist in reducing the spread of
illness. Throughout the day, bacteria has numerous
opportunities to accumulate on the surface of our hands.
Your body encounters bacteria each time you touch another
person, touch money, pet and animal, handle raw meat or even
grab a doorknob. Each time you use the toilet or change a
diaper, bacteria has the chance to get on your hands or even
under your fingernails. If you touch any contaminated
surface and then rub your eyes, mouth or nose before washing
your hands, you run the risk of spreading bacteria to
yourself and others.
Breaking Down Bacteria
and Germs
water alone is not usually able to penetrate the oils and
proteins that naturally occur on the surface of our hands.
Without using soap or hand sanitizer you are offering a safe
haven to bacteria, protecting them from being rinsed are
rubbed from the surface of your hands and killed.
Using a surfactant,
such as hand soaps, reduces the surface tension of the
water. This allows the dirt and bacteria to be temporarily
suspended above the surface of your hand. The oils that are
found on your hands that do not normally dissolve when you
use water become dispersible wants hand soap is added. While
the bacteria is suspended above the hand surface, they can
be easily rinsed down with water and killed.
Proper Hand Washing
Technique
It is always important to wash with hand soap to kill
bacteria after using the restroom or changing a diaper. Also
before feeding, eating, before and after touching meat. Wet
your hands with very warm water just before applying the
hand so. Add soap and work it into a lather for at least 20
seconds. Always rub the front and back of your hands all the
way up to your wrist, between your fingers and under your
fingernails. Then rinse your both of your hands thoroughly
with warm, running water until all hand soap and bacteria
are removed.
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