“Germs don’t fly; they hitchhike.”  Dr. Kenneth Seaton

How often are you washing your hands?

they shall wash their hands and feet so that they will not die. (Ex. 30:21a; NIV)

Now today’s topic may seem a bit personal to some folks.  However, it really is a concern for all of us, and this simple act that will go a long way in preventing us from becoming ill with communicable diseases.  After using the bathroom, do you wash your hands?  (Don’t tell me if you don’t!) Hopefully you’ll change your mind after reading this. 

As a nurse, hand washing was highly emphasized and the habit has stayed with me.  However, there is a great deal more to this subject than I was taught in nursing school.  Dr. Jordan Rubin travels extensively.  He is shocked and says that it is absolutely brutal how many millions of people fail to wash their hands after using the bathroom.  He states, “They blithely leave the restroom and spread their germs on an unsuspecting public.”  Nice thought, huh? He actually quotes studies done to reveal fairly high percentages of people who use public restrooms and never walk up to the sink after using the toilet.

Dr. Rubin states, “The hands are one of the five main areas where germs enter the body-the other four being the eyes, ears, nose, and mouth.  Germs prefer to hitchhike (on the hands and under the fingernails) rather than fly through the air.  Once germs are established on your hands and fingertips, it is only a matter of time before you rub your eyes, scratch your nose, stroke your ears, or touch your mouth-letting the germs in those portals of entry.”

Watch your spouse sometime and see how often they touch their face.  Another place we pick-up “critters” are from shopping carts.   A report in the Tallahassee Democrat stated that shopping carts carry 1.4 million bacteria per square inch, which is 1000 times more than on a toilet seat!

A few of the most critical times to wash your hands are:
–After going to the bathroom
–Before and after food preparation
–Before eating
–After sneezing, coughing, or blowing your nose
–After changing a diaper
–After shaking hands with a large number of people
–After shopping

I’ll go over various types of soaps and cleaners in another Daily Gram.  But remember that a few seconds spent washing your hands could save you hours or even days of discomfort, or even a trip to the doctor’s office.

Prayer Power
Father thank You for Your word that teaches us about hygiene and how to care for our bodies.  May we honor You in all we say and do.

Link of the Day
Keeping the Flu Out of Your Home is in Your Hands

Blessings on you as you begin to recognize the importance of hand washing