Maintaining good personal hygiene is one of the best ways to protect yourself from illnesses such as COVID-19, influenza and the common cold. Not only is it important for your own health but good hygiene practices will prevent the spread of such illnesses to those who are most vulnerable such as the elderly, pregnant women and individuals with weakened immune systems.
With the COVID-19 pandemic at the front of everyone’s minds at the moment, personal hygiene practices are vitally important. In this article we will discuss some basic hygiene practices that we should all adhere to not only in our current situation, but everyday.
What is it?
Personal hygiene includes – cleaning your body daily, washing your hands with soap after going to the toilet, brushing your teeth twice each day, covering your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, washing your hands after handling pets as well as before and after meals.
How do I wash my hands properly?
To wash your hands properly wet your hands, then cover them with soap or with an alcohol-based hand sanitiser, washing it all over your hands for at least 20 seconds. Lather between the fingers and the back of your hands. Clean dirty nails with a scrubbing brush as bacteria and germs can get under your nails. Rinse both sides of your hands, preferably under clean running water. Dry off your hands with a clean towel or let them dry in the air.
It is especially important to wash your hands after going to the toilet because your hands may come into contact with faecal matter, which contains billions of germs. Also be sure to wash your hands before and after eating or preparing food, after changing babies’ nappies, before and after touching a sick person or cleaning up vomit or body fluids, after blowing your nose, before and after treating cuts or wounds, after touching rubbish, dirty surfaces or objects, or if they just feel or look dirty.
There are other ways to prevent the spread of illness:
- Shower or bath every day.
- Regularly wash your clothes and try not to wear dirty clothes.
- Hang your clothes out to dry in the sun – the sun will kill bacteria on your clothes that remains.
- Maintain a 1.5 metre distance from those who are unwell or if you are unwell.
- Avoid overcrowding the house – each house is designed for a particular number of people to live there comfortably.
A little effort can go a long way in helping prevent the spread of illnesses. Our personal hygiene is vital in protecting yourself but also protecting those who are most at risk and most effected by illnesses such as COVID-19.
If you would like more information regarding personal hygiene or COVID-19 visit Health Victoria or contact Back in Motion Aspendale Gardens on 9580 1985 for more information.