Why do I need to wash my hands?

You’ve probably been told a thousand times that you need to wash your hands, but you might be wondering what all of the fuss is really about! Is it really THAT important??

The answer is that yes, it is that important, and you might have a hard time finding a health professional who disagreed with that! Among doctors, scientists, and other health experts, hand-washing is often considered the number one way of preventing the spread of germs and keeping people healthy!

Here’s how it works: Soap has the really neat ability to stick to dirt and germs, but not to water. This means that when you lather up, the soap hangs on to the germs and the dirt, and then rinses away with the water! 

You should always wash your hands before you eat, because otherwise the germs on your hands can get into your body very easily through your mouth. It’s equally important to always wash you hands after certain activities that tend to be particularly germy, such as going to the bathroom, touching an animal or pet, playing outside, being around a sick person, blowing your nose, sneezing, coughing, or whatever else your parents or doctors advise. Even if you don’t intend to eat right after one of these activities, you could still end up accidentally putting germs into your body by just touching your nose or mouth. You could also pass your germs to other people by simply touching things (like a tabletop) that they touch, too!

Remember: Germs are too small for you to see, but that doesn’t mean they’re too small for you to wash away! Keep yourself healthy by washing often!

Have you ever seen a picture of a germ that was taken under a microscope? Ask a grown-up to help you find one. You can also look for a picture that shows you a group of germs and the real-size picture of how many germs fit into just one tiny space! (Germs are really, really small!!)

Try to find out the name of the type of germ you are looking at, and what it does. (Is it a cold and flu germ? Does it cause stomach sickness?) Also try to find out where it comes from, such as a toilet, raw uncooked foods, or a sneeze!