One of the things that so many of us take for granted is how germs are transmitted. A few weeks ago, my boyfriend and I were visiting with one of our friends. He and his wife were throwing a family gathering in which there were plenty of children and adults running around. I couldn’t help but notice that some of the children were putting their hands in their mouths and then touching the ground and touching other things such as doorknobs, etc. While you don’t want to necessarily stop a child from being curious and exploring things, you also have to be wary about where other people’s hands have been as well as yours because many other adults later touched these doorknobs and then went over to get some food from the table- food that was being shared by others. Thus, the transmission of germs begins.
Washing your hands is important for several reasons. For starters, think back to how many things your hands touched throughout the course of the day. No doubt, you had to open a door or hold a door for someone. Perhaps, you used the elevator and had to push a button to go to a certain floor. Maybe your day started when you had to clean out the cat’s litter box and then grab a bite to eat. There are numerous instances in which our hands come into contact with things that are less than desirable and are made even more so once we think about how many other people’s germ-infested hands might have graced the same surface.
Whenever my boyfriend and I go to a restaurant or go out to eat somewhere, we always take turns going to the bathroom to wash our hands prior to eating our food. The only exceptions that we will make sometimes is if we are on the road and have hand sanitizer or if we are consuming food that does not require us to use our fingers. Some might view this as being slightly germaphobic. However, nothing could be further from the truth. Throughout the course of the day, I have witnessed countless people eating or doing something with their hands that could be viewed as unsanitary. For instance, at our friend’s house, someone’s child had his finger in his nose and then picked a scab on his leg until it bled. They then ran over to play a game with some other children that involved placing his hands on an object that they were all sharing.
Germs are transmitted most easily through your hands. This is why you will find all of those reminders in public bathrooms about washing your hands, etc. It’s amazing how a little soap and hot water for thirty seconds can really go a long way. Unfortunately, I have observed women in public bathrooms who come out of a bathroom stall and walk right out the door without washing their hands. I also know that there are probably men who do the same. Make sure you wash your hands before you eat anything and before you touch your face. You’ll be happier in the long run that you did.