Reduce Spread of Illness With Hand Cleanliness

No one wants to get sick. Sometimes it just happens. There are many ways to reduce germs and bacteria which spread illness and disease. One method is through using hand sanitizer. While hand washing with soap and warm water is ideal, this is not always practical. Many places we go do not have running water conveniently available. For those in-between times when your hands get dirty, like with elevators, playgrounds, office meetings and in restaurants, hand sanitizer is a quick and healthy fix.

Taking precautions to reduce the spread of germs is also helpful in the prevention of an influenza pandemic, in particular. The various strains of flu are spread mostly through hand-to-hand and hand-to-surface contact. The flu affects the respiratory system and can cause a variety of symptoms, including fever, sore throat, nasal congestion, coughing and a headache.

Once someone handles a surface contaminated with this virus and others, they can contract a disease by touching their eyes, nose or mouth. While most common in the fall and winter, illnesses can be contracted at any time of year. Another common way to get sick is through contaminated food surfaces.

Keep hands, countertops and utensils clean. Wash your hands when cooking or eating. After a meal, if there is no running water available (or after washing hands with soap and water) use antibacterial hand sanitizer.

We carry Soapopular’s array of products in a variety of sizes. They are 99.9% effective at killing harmful germs in a matter of seconds. Keep a dispenser with you for those times when hand washing is inconvenient and/or impossible. Use it regularly, especially when coming into contact with crowds of people or frequently used surfaces.

Wastewise wants to help reduce the spread of illness and the possibility of pandemics from flu and other viruses. Aside from frequent hand washing and use of hand sanitizer, keep these other tips in mind. If we all work together, we can reduce the spread of illness and disease.

• Avoid close contact with others, especially if you know that they are sick. Watch out for signs of illness, such as coughing and sneezing. Be extra vigilant about what you touch when people complain of fever and sore throat.
• When you are not feeling well, stay home. Do not chance getting other people sick as well.
• Cover your nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing. Do not immediately touch surfaces or people afterwards. Clean your hands first.