Hand hygiene report finds much room for improvement

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

Americans need to learn to proper handwashing if they want to avoid flu and other infections.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, handwashing is the most effective thing you can do to keep from getting sick with an infection, like flu, and passing it on to others. The Soap and Detergent Association has been carrying out its second 'Clean Hands' report, on the handwashing habits of the American people and find that matters are on the slide, compared to 2004. They give the nation a C minus for hand hygiene, compared to C in 2004. Around one thousand adults were surveyed.

Sixty eight per cent do not wash their hands for long enough to get them clean. What you should do is wet your hands, then make a lather - away from the tap so it doesn't get washed away - and use it to soap your hands all over, including under the nails. Keep going for about 20 seconds and then rinse with warm, running water. Antiseptic wipes are a useful substitute in situations where you don't have access to soap and hot water.

In the survey, 36 per cent did not wash their hands after coughing or sneezing, and 31 per cent did not do so before a meal. Ninety two per cent said they did wash their hands after using the bathroom, however, but three per cent never bothered. Clearly, there is a lot of complacency around hand hygiene, which is a pity - as it's the simplest and most effective way of stopping the spread of infection.

Source
Soap and Detergent Association 21st September 2006