Hand Hygiene Day: Health Officials Say Clean Hands Save Lives
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Hand washing saves lives.
That's the message the World Health Organization is hoping to spread on Hand Hygiene Day, which is Thursday.
It is important for everyone to wash their hands, but it is extremely vital among health care workers.
"There are many research studies that actually links hand washing to reduction in infectious diseases," said Dr. Miryam Wahrman, who teaches biology at William Paterson University.
"There is probably nothing more important that a physician can do in a health care setting than wash their hands," said 1010 WINS Medical Editor Dr. Brian McDonough. "We've seen over and over again the transmission of bacteria, infectious agents, these things can be spread easily throughout hospitals."
Germs are on doorknobs and train and bus poles, but they can also be spread easily on your cell phone and money, WCBS 880's Peter Haskell reported.
Wahrman, who has written a book on the subject appropriately titled "The Hand Book," recommends cleaning your phone, tablet and other handheld electronic devices.
"There are different kinds of cleansers that are being developed now that they can swab down the surfaces," said Wahrman.
"In our day to day life we should be washing our hands on a regular basis, all you have to see is what happens on cruise ships where Norovirus or something can spread rapidly if people aren't taking the time to do that," McDonough said.
Wahrman says, "You don't have to wash your hands all the time, but it's very good practice to wash your hands with soap after using the bathroom and also before eating."
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has also launched a campaign promoting hand hygiene, called "Clean Hands Count."
