Here's why you should teach your children to wash their hands

October 15 is World Handwashing Day. Washing your hands is the first hygiene advice to follow. Washing hands helps prevent disease, maintain food safety, keep the environment clean, safe and cool, and help children become strong and healthy. We all know that washing your hands is the most effective and easiest way to eliminate germs and harmful bacteria from our hands. This year, the theme of World Handwashing Day 2018 is the link between handwashing and food, which also includes food hygiene, safety and nutrition. The slogan is: "Clean hands – a recipe for health, reminds us to do hand washing part of every meal." World Handwashing Day is dedicated to raising awareness and understanding of the importance of handwashing with soap and water as an effective method of preventing multiple diseases and enhancing immunity. This day is an opportunity to design, test and adopt creative methods to encourage people to wash their hands whenever necessary.

Washing hands frequently helps children become strong and healthy
Photo credit: iStock

Bacteria can be found everywhere. Some bacteria are good and we need them to function properly, but harmful bacteria can wreak havoc in our lives. If they support our immune system, you can get sick. Toilets are the most common place in our home or workplace where bacteria are most likely to spread. The reason is obvious, because bathrooms are places conducive to the infection of bacteria until they can be transported and transferred by contact on other objects. Bacteria can enter our cell phones, door handles, clothes and slowly and gradually into our bodies.

This World Handwashing Day makes the difference with these effective measures:

• You must wash your hands with soap before eating, cooking or feeding others
• You must also remind or help others to always wash their hands before eating and cooking
• Inculcate this habit in your family meals
• You should try to find appropriate places to wash your hands at home, in your community, in schools, at workplaces, in public places and in health care facilities.

Here's why you should teach your child to wash their hands frequently:

1. Reduces eye infections:

Proper hand washing can reduce the risk of certain eye infections. Regular handwashing can reduce the spread of bacterial infections of the eyes, such as trachoma or pink eyes. This irritating eye condition can cause eye pain, itching, sensitivity to light, and red, swollen, swollen eyes.

Proper hand washing can reduce the risk of certain eye infections.
Photo credit: iStock

Read also: 5 ways to protect your child's eyes

2. eliminates germs:

Keeping your hands clean is one of the most important elements of personal hygiene. This avoids getting sick and transmitting germs to others. Many diseases spread by not washing their hands with soap, running water and clean. These diseases include colds and serious infections, such as meningitis, bronchitis, influenza, hepatitis A or diarrhea.

3. Better immunity:

Many preventable diseases such as colds, flu or pneumonia can be prevented by proper hand washing. Therefore, it is necessary to instil this habit in children. It can ward off some diseases and therefore promote a high immunity in your child.

Read also: Increase immunity during the monsoon with these 7 fruits

4. food poisoning:

The most important way to prevent food poisoning is to wash your hands properly. Washing your hands with running water is not enough. You should teach your child to wash his / her hands properly after arriving at school after playing and after using the toilet.

Also read: 7 personal hygiene tips to know

When should you wash your hands?

• After using the toilet
• After traveling
• Before eating
• Before cooking
• After touching or feeding pets
• After visiting a hospital or doctor
• After treating a cut or bruise
• After touching raw foods, especially meat
• When you sneeze or cough
• After touching garbage or dirty dishes
• When they are dirty

Disclaimer: This content, including tips, provides generic information only. It is not in any way a substitute for qualified medical advice. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim any responsibility for this information.