Washing hands using soap and running water is an example of a clean living behavior contained in the Regulation of the Minister of Health of the Republic of Indonesia Number 41 of 2014 concerning Guidelines for Balanced Nutrition. Getting used to clean living behavior, one of the four pillars of balanced nutrition, aims to prevent exposure to infection and keep the body healthy. Here's what you need to know about hand washing:
Benefits of Hand Washing
Washing hands using soap and running water helps prevent the transfer of bacteria from the hands to food to be consumed. If done correctly, hand washing can also clean and kill germs quickly and effectively. Clean living behavior must be carried out based on awareness by every family member to avoid disease because 45% of diarrheal diseases can be prevented by washing hands.
When to Wash Hands
The following are the times when you are required to wash your hands using soap and running water:
1. Before and after meals
2. Before and after handling food
3. After defecating and bathing the baby/child
4. Before giving breast milk
5. After touching animals
6. After gardening
How to Wash Your Hands
To get the maximum benefits of hand washing, it must be done by following the correct steps, namely:
1. Wet the whole hand using clean running water
2. Rub the soap into your palms, the back of your hands, and between your fingers
3. Clean under the nails
4. Rinse with clean running water
5. Dry your hands with a towel/tissue or air dry/air dry
Get used to clean living behavior.
Infectious disease is a crucial factor affecting a person's nutritional status. When a person is malnourished, it will be easier for him to get an infection. Even though the body needs more nutritional intake to meet the increase in metabolism in people who suffer from infections, especially if accompanied by fever.
Public awareness is needed about implementing a clean living behavior as one of the pillars of balanced nutrition. A culture of clean living behavior will prevent a person from being exposed to infection and keep his body healthy. Examples of clean living behaviors that can be applied apart from always washing hands with soap and clean running water are covering the food to be served, covering your mouth and nose when you sneeze so as not to spread germs, and always using footwear.
Hand sanitizers and antiseptic wet wipes can be used to clean hands in certain circumstances, but we shouldn't depend on these two tools. The movement of rubbing your hands and removing germs with running water is the reason why hand washing is more effective. Use enough soap and rub your hands for at least 20 seconds for maximum benefit.
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Sources:
Kementerian Kesehatan RI. (2014). Pedoman Gizi Seimbang. Jakarta: Kementerian Kesehatan RI.
McCusker, B. (2022). 7 Things That Can Happen If You Don’t Wash Your Hands. The Healthy. [online]. https://www.thehealthy.com/infectious-disease/why-you-should-wash-your-hands/