This month we’re marking Hygiene Week, which promotes good hygiene practices. And that leads me to ask this question.
What happened to handwashing? I can’t help but notice that a lot of people have become rather cursory about hand hygiene. Blasé even.
Pandemic lessons
During the pandemic, we all learned a lot about the importance of handwashing. We diligently stayed at the sink, carefully lathering between our fingers while we sang Happy Birthday (silently, usually).
Hand sanitising gel became the norm in public loos, airports, train stations, even in shops. We all carried a little bottle in our bags, just in case we needed a quick squirt to feel reassured.
However, handwashing seems to have been pushed to the back of mind, along with masks and clapping for keyworkers.
Handwashing shockers
These are things that are grossing me out.
Public loos: Now come on people, surely this is one place we need to be scrupulous about handwashing. But a quick rinse seems to be the norm nowadays.
Smeary doors: Am I the only one who opens doors with their elbow? And don’t even get me started on bannisters.
Gloves: Wearing gloves is not a substitute for handwashing, but it can lead to complacency. Even the NHS are moving away from the over-use of gloves with their Gloves Off campaign. For most tasks, careful handwashing is enough. It is better for your skin and better for the environment too.
Handwashing for cleaners
Seriously, handwashing is a serious business, especially for cleaners. Does your cleaner wash their hands between rooms? Check that they have thorough hand hygiene practices, so they aren’t carrying germs from the bathroom when they wipe your kitchen surfaces or plump up the pillows in your bedroom. It’s something I talk to my team about on a regular basis.
Back to hand hygiene
So, this Hygiene Week, can we go back to singing Happy Birthday when we wash our hands? Maybe we’ll see less winter bugs, coughs and colds – and it might even help prevent something more serious. Rant over 🙂
