Hand Hygiene

Approximately 16 million people suffer from hay fever in the UK, and being one of those, every year I cannot help but wonder “what did I do to deserve this?”. I’ve become an eye-rubbing, tissue devouring, flower-fearing, antihistamine junkie and only a fellow sufferer knows what I would give to be freed from affliction.

Experts recommend sneezing into a tissue, or turning your head and sneezing into your shoulder or elbow (Eeeurgh! I think I’ll stick to the tissue thanks). Every sneeze can spread thousands of bacteria-filled droplets into the air and with my constant sneezing, I am extremely conscious of ensuring that a good level of hand hygiene is maintained.

Although my hands look clean they are fostering germs that could make someone else sick. Around 50 percent of food borne illness outbreaks can be prevented with a simple 20 second hand wash with soap and water and where washing facilities are unavailable a hand sanitizer such as Initial Hygiene’s UltraProtect™. The santitizer also provides 24 hours of protection from germs on surfaces, reducing contamination from disease spreading pests like rodents, flies or cockroaches which can cause salmonella, dysentery, gastro-enteritis and typhoid.

Washing/cleaning your hands is the first line of defense from bacterial spread and ensuring good health. When hay fever strikes, it is very easy to become disorientated and I’m sure that hand hygiene is the last thing on a suffers mind but remember, hand hygiene is a shared responsibility, so in memory of the late Michael Jackson, “Heal the world, make it a better place”.

Certification Map created this brilliant infographic to support National Handwashing Awareness Week.