Yes, we know it’s to the tune of Happy Birthday, we know we have to do it like a gazillion times a day. But, do you know how to wash your hands properly?
People with OCD and similar issues are really struggling with this as it is almost a licence to worry. I did put Almost. Not quite. If you do it properly, you only have to do it once, until it’s time to do it again.
Let’s tackle how to do it first.
First, take a pair of hands, preferably your own because of social distancing.
Wet them with water, and then apply some soap.
Rub your hands together and don’t spare between your fingers and the base of each thumb.
To do the job properly it should take about 20 seconds – you do not need to be rough on that lovely, delicate skin or you’ll dry it out.
Rinse your hands to get the soap off and then dry, preferably with a disposable towel, or if you’re not into our throwaway world a towel that only you use. By the way, don’t forget to wash your towels occasionally.
Now let’s think about when to wash your hands.
Regularly!
When you’ve been to the toilet, before preparing food, when you’ve been out shopping, and in these Covid19 times when you feel you’ve been in common areas where you are with others who might be exposed to the virus.
Now, a word about towels…. Wash them! If they get damp and are left in a lovely student pile on the bathroom floor they’ll get delightful. If you don’t wash them when there’s a full moon you’ll get delightful too. All this social distancing means you may not be able to smell your best friend over zoom but universities are slowly getting back together. Let’s not make Eau de Landfill Site, shall we? Bath towels should be hung up to dry properly and washed after every third use unless you and they are really messy – how did you manage that game of football, this is lockdown! Hand towels don’t clean themselves, you have to do it. Dig out those pods, people.
If you’d like to see a video on how to wash your hands, have a look here
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/best-way-to-wash-your-hands/