September 1, 2005

Prairie Fare: The ABCs of Hand Washing

By Julie Garden-Robinson, Food and Nutrition Specialist
NDSU Extension Service

“Wash your hands before you eat.”

“Wash your hands after using the bathroom.”

Most likely, we’ve all heard these admonitions at some point in our lives, probably before we could recite our ABCs. Are adults and kids following the “rules”? Does it matter?

The bad news is that Americans aren’t routinely following hand washing recommendations. Researchers observed 7,800 people in public restrooms in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Atlanta and New Orleans. They reported that 75 percent of women washed their hands and about 58 percent of men washed their hands.

Other studies have shown that just one person in three washes after a sneeze or cough, and one in four skips hand washing after diapering a baby.

It’s easy for “germs” to jump from person to person through direct contact, such as a handshake, or indirect contact, such as touching a doorknob.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, handwashing is the single most important way to help prevent the spread of disease. Proper hand washing can protect us from the common cold to more serious illnesses, such as hepatitis A and meningitis.

In a study of military recruits from 1996 to 1998 termed “Operation Stop Cough,” 40,000 Navy recruits were instructed to wash their hands five times per day. They had a monthly hand-washing lesson, and wet sinks passed inspection. When health records were checked, researchers found a 45 percent lower rate of respiratory illnesses during the two-year study.

Hand washing affects kids’ health and school attendance, too. Researchers reported that children who washed their hands four times daily missed half as many school days due to upset stomachs and one fourth as many school days due to respiratory illness compared with those who washed less.

Bottom line: Hand washing is important to food safety and health. Remember to wash your hands before, during and after preparing food; before you eat; after using the bathroom; after diapering children; after handling pets; and every time you cough or sneeze. Here’s how to wash your hands effectively:

• Wet your hands with warm water.
• Use regular soap. Don’t be misled by the marketing of “antibacterial” products. Read the label closely. Many health experts are concerned that the widespread use of antibacterial agents, such as “Triclosan,” may in fact be promoting the development of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria. Alcohol-based sanitizers aren’t a substitute for hand washing, either, plus they can lead to dry skin.
• Rub your hands together for at least 20 seconds. That’s how long it takes to hum or sing the “Alphabet Song” or “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.” Pay close attention to fingernails and between fingers.
• Dry with a clean paper or cloth towel. In a public restroom, it’s a good idea to use a paper towel to open the door as you leave the restroom, too.

Here’s a tasty snack or appetizer to enjoy with clean hands.

Taco Dip

1 8-oz. package softened light cream cheese
1 15-oz. can chili without beans
3 to 4 chopped green onions
1 1/2 c. reduced0-fat shredded cheese (such as cheddar or Mexican style)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat a pie plate or small cake pan with a cooking spray. Spread cream cheese over pie plate. Layer chili, chopped green onions and cheese. Bake uncovered in a 350-degree oven until mixture is bubbly. Serve with baked tortilla chips.

Makes 8 servings. Each serving has 200 calories, 14 grams of fat, 9 grams of carbohydrate and 200 milligrams of calcium.

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Source: Julie Garden-Robinson, (701) 231-7187, jgardenr@ndsuext.nodak.edu
Editor: Rich Mattern, (701) 231-6136, richard.mattern@ndsu.nodak.edu

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