The Power of Clean Hands: Importance of Hand Washing
Introduction
Hands are considered to be the prime mode of infectious diseases, particularly for those living in close proximity such as college residence halls, shopping malls, transportation bus, bank halls, market areas etc. Because of the frequent contact with hands and multiple surfaces, the incidence of cross-contamination is significantly increased. Hand hygiene is a major requirement for human health and many infectious diseases can be emerged if proper hand hygiene procedures are not implemented. Hand washing is the simplest, important and cost-effective way to improve hygiene in health care and support the prevention of infectious disease. This is importance of hand washing essay in which this topic will be considered.
Importance of hand washing cannot be over-emphasized, especially in developing nations where eating with hands is a common practice. In some developing countries, there is always the reluctance of hand washing before meal and in some, hand washing has become a culturally accepted norm. Eating with the hands was going on for generations before anyone thought of washing their hands first. So along the way, through technology and hygiene practices people become educated in the improvement of hand washing.
Due to the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic prevalent in the whole world today, medical experts have advice that we should always wash our hands properly and sanitize them to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) virus and other infectious diseases. This project design is a self-operated hand washing system that automatic washes, dry and check temperature without physical touch or contact and can be stationed at door entrances or walk ways to enable people wash, sanitize their hands and also check their body temperature.
Producers of hand sanitizers make use of Alcohol based hand sanitizers because they are provided with antiseptic disinfectants like Chlorohexidine Gluconate. Minimum concentration of alcohol in hand sanitizers must be greater than 70% for effectiveness against viruses. But, frequently touching the hand sanitizer containers to get a drop of sanitizer again initiates contact with persons, which further make the spread of germs, virus and other diseases.
Background of the Problem
The increase in Coronavirus disease (COVID19) cases and other deadly diseases in the world today has led to the Introduction of preventive measures which involves social distancing, wearing of nose mask, washing of the hands, using of hand sanitizers, and measuring of the body temperature using a non-contact thermometer.
Coronavirus also known as COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SAR-CoV 2) virus strain. Coronavirus (Cov) are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SAR-CoV). The signs and symptoms differ but consist of respiratory symptoms and fever, cough, loss of smell and taste, headache, fatigue and shortness of breath. In most severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome and sometimes death.
This virus can spread from an infected person’s mouth or nose in small liquid particularly when they cough, sneeze, speak, sing or breath. These particles range from larger respiratory droplets to smaller aerosols. Current evidence by the World Health Organization (WHO) suggest that the virus can spread mainly between people who are in close contact with each other, typically one metre. A person can be infected when droplets or aerosols containing the virus are inhaled or come directly into contact with the nose, eye or mouth. The virus can also spread in poorly ventilated or crowed indoor settings, where people tend to spend longer periods of time. People may also become infected by touching surfaces that have been contaminated by the virus while touching their eyes, nose or mouth without cleaning their hands.
Hand washing is the single most important way of preventing the spread of virus and diseases. Unwashed or poorly washed hands are common way of spreading diseases such as: cold, flu, ear infections, strep throat, diarrhea and other intestinal problems and virus. Germs and virus causing illness are passed through handling food, touching door knobs, shaking hands and putting mouths on a telephone receiver etc. And in our daily activities we practice one of these either in the offices, at home, in the market places, in the classroom and so on. To reduce the risk of contracting this deadly virus, and other diseases we are advised by the World Health Organization and our local authorities to frequently clean our hands using soap and water, or an alcohol-based hand rub, avoid touching surfaces in public setting or health facilities, wear a mask. Good hand washing practices have now been adopted to reduce the spread of these diseases. This has brought about significant reduction in the rate of infectious disease which have been reported in a variety of settings, such as health care institutions, the food industry, child day care canters, schools, and all community and domestic situations in the past few months.
Conclusion
Hygiene is a practice engaged in to preserve health. A lot of people have falling sick due to bad hygiene, lack of cleanliness after using the toilet, after eating or doing other things which attract germs and other diseases and they wouldn’t properly wash their hands or even if they do it is with the use of the Manuel hand washer but they still contact this germ again by touching the tap which the water runs from to close it, so we thought of creating a touchless hand washer and dryer to eliminate these diseases which therefore bring a healthy hygiene by frequently washing our hands with soap and water. It is said that prevention is better than cure, with Coronavirus disease (Covid-19) coming to stay, good hand hygiene is hereby an important precautionarypreventive means of combating it. Keeping our hands clean from virus and other diseases is important because with good hygiene brings good health.
