The Dangers of Dirty Hands

Salmonella, E. coli infection, meningitis, hepatitis A, and influenza are just a few of the illnesses that can be spread when we do not take the time to wash our hands properly. Throughout the day, we accumulate germs and bacteria on our hands from touching contaminated surfaces, working with raw foods, sneezing, and using the restroom. It is easy to bring these germs into one's body by unconsciously touching one's mouth, eyes, or nose. While our immune systems are equipped to fight off most of these everyday pathogens, many end up causing serious illness. Even an illness as common as a winter cold can be much more serious than we first suspect. Older adults with the flu can often develop pneumonia as well—a combination that is the seventh leading cause of death among Americans. In addition to this, foodborne pathogens cause an estimated 76 million illnesses, leading to approximately 5000 deaths each year. These illnesses can produce a wide range of very serious health complications, including kidney failure, neurological problems, arthritis, meningitis, stillbirths, and many other illnesses and syndromes. Children are also particularly susceptible to infectious disease, thus it is very important that parents teach their children to wash their hands properly and often.
Since it is impossible to create a food supply that carries zero risk of contamination, food should always be prepared with this in mind. Thoroughly cook all meat to kill any pathogens and always remember to rinse fresh fruits and vegetables before eating them.
We must take our health and safety into our own hands—literally! Hand washing is the first line of defense against disease and is also a practice that many of us do not take the time to do correctly or often enough. Just an extra 20 seconds spent washing your hands with soap and water can make all the difference in protecting the health of you and your family!