Introduction

Today I’d like to welcome a guest post contributor to Momma’s Review from Mike Kapalko, Environmental & Tork Services Manager, SCA Tissue North America. Mike and I wanted to share with you the importance of not only washing hands thoroughly, but drying them properly to avoid spreading germs. Take note of his helpful tips to help keep your families healthy this flu season!

Dry Hands Are 1,000 Times Safer Than Damp Hands: Tips for Staying Germ-Free This Flu Season

By: Mike Kapalko, Environmental & Tork Services Manager, SCA Tissue

Flu season is always a tough time for parents, with the constant worry that their kids might get sick – and with recent news coverage about the spread of the H1N1 virus, it’s more important than ever to stay germ-free. As moms and dads, we can do our best to keep our homes clean and sanitary, but we can’t keep tabs on our kids 100 percent of the time. In public areas like schools and playgrounds, it’s hard to know what children will be exposed to.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, good hand hygiene is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of the H1N1 virus, especially in public places. To keep yourself and your family infection-free this fall, make sure to wash hands frequently and, equally as important, dry them thoroughly. Studies have shown that only 28 percent of middle and high school girls wash their hands with soap and water after using the restroom. As startling as that is, boys were even worse, with only eight percent taking the time to wash. Teach your children proper handwashing techniques, and encourage them to maintain that precedence wherever they go.

Knowing When to Wash Hands

The H1N1 virus can last on hard surfaces for 24-48 hours and easily transfers to hands for up to 24 hours.  Teach children to wash their hands whenever they:

• · Arrive at school
• · Eat any meals or snacks
• · Visit the restroom
• · Sneeze or cough
• · Play outside
• · Return inside after being in a public place
• · See their hands are visibly dirty

The Best Way for Kids to Wash

Hands are full of surfaces that can be difficult to reach, which means that many people, especially children, tend to forget certain parts. Teach your kids that whenever they wash, they should sing the “Happy Birthday” song twice to know they’ve scrubbed them enough.

Show children these steps for proper handwashing:

• · Wet hands with clean warm water
• · Apply soap
• · Rub hands together vigorously and scrub all surfaces for 20 seconds. Remember to wash both thumbs as they are often skipped
• · Wash under nails since millions of germs gather there
• · Rinse with clean water

Dry Hands Help Reduce the Risk

Damp hands spread 1,000 times more germs than dry hands^[1] so it’s as important for kids to dry their hands as it is to wash them. When away from home, a single-use paper towel ensures their hands can be completely dried and are virtually germ free.

In fact, a 2008 University of Westminster study showed paper towels are the only option that actually reduces the number of bacteria on hands (by up to 77%). While many people believe hot air drying is the most hygienic way to dry hands, warm air dryers can actually increase the bacteria on hands by up to 254 percent^[2].

Follow these hand drying tips:

• · Dry hands with a single-use paper towel until they are completely dry
• · Use the paper towel to avoid contact with frequently touched surfaces while leaving public washrooms, such as the faucet and door handles

^[1] Patrick, D.R., Findon, G., Miller, T.E., Epidemiology and Infection

Video link: www.torkusa.com/handwashingvideo