The Mississippi State Department of Health clearly states on their website that handwashing is the single most important means of preventing the spread of infection.Our hands bring us into contact every day with disease-causing bacteria and viruses, including those that cause flu. Frequent handwashing can remove or destroy these germs. It's a powerful tool against disease.
Thoroughly washing every part of the hands is essential. A proper handwashing takes at least 20 seconds.
Wet your hands under warm running water and apply some soap.
Lather up — apply soap and rub your hands together hard to scrub dirt and germs away.
Wash hands front and back, and between the fingers.
Wash around your wrists and under your nails.
Rinse well in warm water.
Dry your hands completely with a paper towel. Use the paper towel to turn off the water source, and to open the bathroom door to exit.
You should wash your hands before:
Handling food
Setting the table
Eating
Treating a scrape, cut, or wound
Tending to someone who is sick
Putting in or taking out contact lenses
You should wash your hands after:
Going to the bathroom
Changing diapers
Coughing or sneezing
Preparing food
Touching burns, cuts, or sores
Playing with pets or animals
Handling dirty dishes, utensils, or touching cabinet tops where food is prepared
Being around someone who is sick
Taking out the garbage
It is so shocking to me that people do not frequently wash their hands for whatever reason. It's such an easy thing to do. If you are not able to get to a sink and wash your hands, carry anti-bacterial wipes in your purse or in your car. They may not be environmentally friendly, but in some way, if you can prevent spreading germs to others, you are doing the environment a favor. I know that when I get a cold, I go through at least 3 boxes of tissues or more. No one wants to spend money on something that gets thrown away, but if you think that preserving trees is more important than what you wipe your nose with, consider this information found a the NRDC's site:
If every household in the United States replaced just one box of virgin fiber facial tissues (175 sheets) with 100% recycled ones, we could save 163,000 trees.
The bar of soap is a quickly vanishing thing of the past in public restrooms. If you use liquid soap at home, consider switching back to the good old bar of soap. It's less expensive and it saves packaging waste. The average bar of soap lasts for about twenty showers. Depending on how much you use it, a sixteen-ounce bottle of body wash lasts for an average of 80 showers. However, your fancy body wash costs on average more than 4 times as much as a bar of soap. And it every U.S. household replaced a bottle of body wash with a bar of soap, roughly 2.5 millions pounds of plastic containers could be diverted from the waste stream.
In my opionion, with the introduction of the Autumn through Winter season of sickness also comes the responsibility of all people living in the U.S. to go out and get a FLU SHOT. The MSDH has posted on their website that flu shots will be available starting Tuesday, October 7 from MSDH clinics statewide. You can also check with your doctor, or look for a commercial flu shot clinic in your area. In Mississippi, flu shots from Department of Health clinics cost $25 for adults and $10 for children six months through 18 years old. Pneumonia shots are $48. Medicare or Medicaid prices may be lower; bring your card if you have one. Pneumonia is the deadliest complication from flu; over 600 Mississippians a year die from flu and pneumonia. The pneumonia vaccine can reduce the severity of pneumonia and the chance of hospitalization or death. If you have not had a recent pneumonia vaccination, check with your doctor or county health department to get one. $44; Medicare and Medicaid prices may be lower.
So this is just a reminder to all: wash hands often, cover your cough and stay home if you are sick. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. The flu virus easily enters the body when you touch a contaminated surface and transfer the virus to the eyes, nose, or mouth. Stay home when you are sick. You are more likely to catch the flu if you are already sick with a cold or other illness. If possible, stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick to keep yourself and others well. If you are sick, continue to follow the handwashing guidelines above.
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing to prevent the spread of any illness to others. Wash your hands after using a tissue.
If you live in Mississippi, click this link to find a flu shot distribution area nearest to your home.
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