Hand Washing

Hand washing, also called hand hygiene, is the process of cleaning the hands with soap or handwash and water to eliminate bacteria, viruses, dirt, microorganisms, and other potentially harmful substances. Drying of the washed hands is part of the process as wet and moist hands are more easily recontaminated. If soap and water are unavailable, hand sanitizer that is at least 60% (v/v) alcohol in water can be used as long as hands are not visibly excessively dirty or greasy.

Hand hygiene is central to preventing the spread of infectious diseases in home and everyday life settings.
Meta-analyses have shown that regular hand washing in community settings can significantly reduce respiratory and gastrointestinal infections.

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Source: Wikipedia · Image: Wikimedia Commons · Public domain