Hand Hygiene - A 2-Step Process!

COVID-19 has changed the way we all used to look at hygiene. With the pandemic settling in, each one of us has become more and more aware about the importance of keeping our surroundings safe and hygienic.

We all know that washing our hands with soap and water helps diminish the spread of germs. But what we often forget to look at is how hand drying plays a vital role too in preventing the spread of infectious disease. 

Proper hand hygiene is widely touted as one of the most effective measures for preventing the transmission of germs and infections (World Health Organization, 2009).

Numerous studies around the globe have shown that paper towels do a better job at cleaning one’s hands than hand dryers.

In a report published in the respected Mayo Clinic Proceedings (2012 Aug; 87(8): 791–798.), the authors state that: “Many studies have found friction to be a key component in hand drying for removing contamination.”. Researchers have “reported that bacteria were removed from washed hands by the mechanical abrasive action of drying with paper towels. And microbiological testing of the paper towels after use indicated that many bacteria were transferred from the hands to the paper towels.”

Paper towels are the preferred and more efficient method of drying hands and that they are an effective way to remove bacteria and prevent contamination in restrooms (Huang et al., 2012).

To maintain better hygiene and prevent the spread of infections, it is imperative to wash hands and dry them properly too.

So, next time when you wash your hands, don’t forget to dry them using a paper towel as hand hygiene is a 2-step process.

Sources:

WHO

Mayo Clinic

Huang, C., Ma, W., & Stack, S. (2012, August). The hygienic efficacy of different hand-drying methods: A review of the evidence.