You might be using hand sanitizer incorrectly
Maintaining proper hand hygiene is crucial to prevent yourself from getting infected from the new strain of coronavirus. Washing your hands with soap and water after touching a contaminated surface and before eating is the best way possible to reduce the risk of infection. But when we are stuck in a situation where soap and water are not available then using alcohol-based hand sanitizer is the second-best option to kill germs and bacteria thriving on your hands. But for that, you will have to use the hand sanitizer properly. As per the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), a majority of people are not using sanitizers for long enough.
The right way
When washing hands with soap and water, we have to rub our hands together for 20 seconds to kills all the germs and chemicals. Turns out, when using hand sanitizer you have to rub your hands for more than that time.
As per the CDC, sanitizers take about 30 seconds to kill germs and bacteria. So, you must rub your hands for that long time to reduce the risk of getting infected.
Also read: Wearing masks can halt spread of virus even without lockdown: Study
The risk of infection
The CDC published a new study in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases in which they mentioned that timing is not routinely practised by people, which means they have been at the risk of transmission without knowing it.
Next time you use hand sanitizer, do not just dab it all around your hands. Rub it properly for a full 30 seconds.
Few things you should keep in mind
Here are a few things that you must do to maintain proper hand hygiene.
- If soap and water are not available, then you can use hand sanitizer with 60 per cent alcohol content for 30 seconds.
- Rub it properly on your palms, backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails properly.
- Do not use hand sanitizers to clean hands of infants.
- Children can use it but make them do it in front of you.
- Rub your hands until they’re completely dry.
- Always store the bottle of hand sanitizer out of your children and pets reach.
- Do not to touch your hand or mouth after applying hand sanitiser.
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