Sunday, April 19, 2009

How many times a day do you do IT?



I grew up on a ranch.
And my parents chose not to have TV hooked up out there.
So, I basically grew up not watching TV.

I read.
And used my imagination.
and read.
and made up whacked bedtime stories for my little sister.

Books were my world.

Why am I telling you this?

To explain my relationship with books.

Whenever there is something I don't know, I turn to books for the answer.

I'm always ordering a book from Amazon to teach me how to do something
or how to handle something...

and recently I found a book that sounded interesting.

The Experts Guide to 100 Things Everyone Should Know How To Do




100 experts explain how to do things in these short essays:

Bob Villa shares how to paint a room. Bobbi Brown shares how to apply lipstick. Peggy Post shares how to set a formal table. The Holiday Inn Housekeeper of the Year shares how to make a bed.
You get the idea.

I randomly opened this book today to share an entry with you.


It's about Washing Your Hands by Julie Gerberding. (she's the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention aka CDC)


We all know how to wash our hands, right?
Do you remember who taught you how?
I don't.
It's something I've done all my life.







When I was 15, I worked as a volunteer at the Children's Hospital in Austin, Texas.
And the nurses there told me to wash my hands while singing "Yankee Doodle."
Because the length of time it took to sing was adequate time to kill germs.

Well, Dr. Gerberding suggests something similar!
Here's her instruction:

1. Wet your hands.
2. Apply liquid or bar soap.
3. Run your hands together vigorously to make a lather and scrub all surfaces (including between your fingers and under your fingernails).
4. Continue to rub your hands together for 20 seconds. It takes that long for the soap and scrubbing action to dislodge and remove stubborn germs. Sing Happy Birthday TWICE as a timer.
5. Rinse your hands well under running water.
6. Dry your hands using a paper towel or air dryer.
7. If possible, use your paper towel to turn off the faucet.




Seems basic?
makes sense?




When to do it?
before, during and after you prepare food.
before you eat.
after you use the bathroom.
after handling animals or animal waste.
when you or someone in your home is sick.
when your hands are dirty.



So, my questions for you:

Have you been washing your hands correctly? Have you ever worked in a hospital? Or volunteered there?

22 comments:

lynette355 said...

I know I do not do as good a job now as I should. We all become lax in our habits. When CG was born (3 mths preemie) we had to do the "surgical scrub" every time we went in or out of her unit. Now hospitals have the gel liquid at every door and hall. I think that has some good merit but not to replace hand washing.

Unknown said...

I am pretty good about washing my hands,, I don't sing while I do it, but maybe I should.

Thanks for popping by today, I've missed you!

Anonymous said...

I love washing my hands. I usually lather up several times throughout the day: after putting lotion on my body, after putting foundation on my face with my fingers, after putting my hair stuff in my hair, after getting off the metro, before and after lunch, midafternoon beacuse I hate sticky feeling hands, before, during and after dinner prep, and before I wash my face at night.

I don't, however, sing happy birthday twice while lathering up. I may get through one happy birthday, so I might need to revisit this habit and improve it!

What about YOUR handwashing habits? :)

Kori said...

I wash my hands religiously. I'm what some people may call a germaphobe. I currently work in a Hospital. The person that told me how to wash my hands was Mrs. Vel. She was the lady that watched me after my Mother died. She told me that if I didn't wash my hands and sing twinkle twinkle little star that my hands would turn green and everyone would know that I hadn't been washing my hands correctly.

Funny thing is I did the same thing to my boys. At least they wash their hands now without having to be told. haha

Screwed Up Texan said...

Now I must confess, I dont wash my hands as much as I am probably supposed to. I wash before I prepare food, after I use the restroom, and after I clean the restroom or touch anything "icky." I know, gross. I'll try harder.

I must say though that I have become quite the pro at not using my hands while in public restrooms. I use my back to open the door (or a tissue/shirt sleeve if I must touch a door handle), same thing for the stall, then I squat to use the restroom and then use my foot to flush. I then repeat these steps on the way out. I am way too grossed out to wash my hands at MOST public restrooms. Ewww! Hence why I carry sanitizer spray with me in my purse.

Christina - Rant Rave Roll said...

I wash my hand properly and sometimes way to often (if that's even possible). I've also been no to send people other than my own family back to the bathroom to wash their hands. I know they didn't wash... I'm a Mom!

Angie's Spot said...

I tend to be an obsessive hand washer. And thankfully I've been doing it correctly apparently. I used to work in a children's hospital mental ward (the stories I could tell) and they actually took me through the protocol of hand washing. But that's been 15 years ago. Glad my memory hasn't failed me in that dept. Ha ha!

Jen said...

I can tell you that yes, I have been washing my hand correctly for almost 10 years now, that is how long I have been working in the hospital with 6 of those years being a RN. ;)

Indy said...

I swear I almost wrote a post about this today. Last night my hubby had a poker game here and our office is right beside the bathroom. A large % of the men DID NOT wash their hands. I was sooooo grossed out. When they left, I ran around with germ killer spray and sprayed everything. Nasty! Great post to remind us all.

Krystyn @ Really, Are You Serious? said...

Crap....I just coughed. Must go wash hands...no time to comment...

Really, I'm guilty. I don't even know when I wouldn't be washing my hands with two kids. Fortunately, they are pretty healthy!

John Deere Mom said...

I feel good about my hand-washing habits, but my kids? For example-Cole had leaked a little in his underwear the other day. I told him to quit holding it and to go at preschool. His reponse? "I don't like to go to the bathroom at school because they make me wash my hands." Um, yeah. Better work on his cleaning habits!

Sprite's Keeper said...

Wait, I thought it was "Apply soap THEN wet hands"! Oh my God! All my life has been a fraud!!!

Unknown said...

Hmmmm....

something to think about.

MaryRC said...

im a double hand washer, and the fingernail thing is an OCD thing for me. I try not to be a germaphobe, but hand washing is a biggie in my home.

thanks for stopping by my blog via sits!!

Mrs. Jelly Belly said...

I've never worked in a hospital, but I think I'm pretty good on the hand washing. I sing while I'm doing it, but not to time things, just to annoy people around me. :)

The Blonde Duck said...

I wash my hands all the time and do a good job of the paper towel, not touching the door or sink thing. I just don't wash them for as long as I should.

Lula! said...

Oh, but we are proper hand washers in this house...especially since we share space with a physician!

p.s. I now want that book!

sassy stephanie said...

I'm a lil bit of a germaphobe. I scrub my hands like no tomorrow and taught my kids to do the same. I aced the 'proper handwashing' course at the cancer center when Sweetie first started treatment. Shucks, I'm shocked they haven't called yet to ask me to TEACH it.

Cristin said...

I've worked in nursing homes for ten years... we actually get TESTED on our handwashing technique a few times a year... for real.

Putting the FUN in DysFUNctional said...

I'm way too rushed when washing my hands.
I work in a hospital now. I have a love/hate relationship with it. lol

Mama Dawg said...

I didn't wash my hands properly until I started working here at the hospital. Now I do!

Alison said...

I don't have time to do much else with all the hand washing I am apparently supposed to be doing!

I am a frequent pee-er so I often get fatigued by how many times I have to wash my hands everyday...