Importance of Handwashing

The importance of handwashing cannot be over stressed.  "It is a fact that handwashing reduces the spread of hand-transmitted pathogens, bacteria and viruses.  These dangerous microbes can not only make you ill, they can be life threatening."

    Proof That Handwashing Works

Hundreds of studies confirming the benefits of handwashing have been publicized.  In the 1840's Dr. Ignaz Semmelweis was an assistant in the maternity wards of a Vienna hospital.  He noted that the mortality rate in the delivery room staffed by medical students was three times higher than another delivery room staffed by midwives.

He also observed that the medical students were working on cadavers in another room and then going directly to the delivery room.  He reasoned that the medical students leaving the autopsy room were infecting the birthing mothers causing the spread of disease.

Doctor Semmelweis then ordered all personnel to wash their hands in a chlorinated solution before examining women in labor. The results were astounding with a drop in mortality to less than one percent.  Even though this test proved the importance of handwashing, the doctors remained skeptical.

Doctor Semmelweis moved on to another hospital and experienced similar success with his handwashing program.  It is considered ironic today that Doctor Semelweis died from an infection caused from Streptococcus pyogenes, one of the germs controlled by handwashing!

                           Hand to Mouth Infection

How many times do people wipe their mouths with their hands?  How many times to people place their fingers in their mouths to take out gum or to dislodge something stuck in their teeth? What about all that "finger food we all love eat?"

What microbes are on our hands when they touch our mouths?  Let's give you and idea of what could be happening.

Every hand you shake, every hand rail you touch, every door knob, every light switch, every counter top, every dog you pet...simply everything you touch can place dangerous germs on your hands.  Maybe a flu bug, a cold, or a case of diarrhea won't kill you, but even these diseases can be life threatening to some people.  It is not just about you, it's about all those people around you.

                             Anti-Biotic Resistant Strains of Germs

Does all this talk about the importance of handwashing sound exaggerated? Consider the person with anti-biotic resistant staff infection found working on Meals on Wheels recently in upstate NY! A great panic resulted with the only hope in this dire situation was "handwashing."

"If he is a handwasher", the doctor said, "we are in OK shape."  Staphylococcus aureus is a germ to worry about.  If he weren't a handwasher, what a terrible threat to all those recipients of the Meals on Wheels! Let's hope that the man was a handwasher!

                                  Handwashing Germ Hit List

The importance of handwashing can be assessed by looking at a list of germs found on human hands.  Here are a few:

• Shigella flexneri...causes vomiting, headache, diarrhea
• Streptococcus pyrogens...causes tonsilitis, sore throats, scarlet fever,impetigo
• Salmonella ... causes severe diarrhea, stomach pain, dizzyness, fever
• Rhino virus...over 200 strains causing great misery in the form of colds
• Proteus vulgaris...urinary tract infextions
• Hepatitis A...vomiting, liver disorders, jaundice
• Escherichia coli 0157 ...kidney failure, uncontrollable fever, death
• Rotavirus ...55,000 children hopitalized with this each year
• Echovirus...meningitis, encephalitis, neonatal sepsis, myocarditis, and chronic infection
• Coxsackie virus...sore throat, abdominal discomfort, or nausea

We all can help in the prevention of disease by promoting the importance of handwashing!

 By John Lundgren:  Order your posters at www.1st-in-handwashing.com

Order now to help prevent a health crisis!    (11" x 17 " eye catching size )

Don't wait until there is a health crisis before you place an order. 

 Order now to help prevent a health crisis!    (11" x 17 " eye catching size )

These handwashing posters are printed on rugged index stock! 

  Please name the poster you wish to order.  "Why Wash Your Hands?" or "Germ Farm"    Sorry, 6 poster minimum on orders.

Why wait? Order Now! 

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Minimum Order is 6 Posters

 6 Charts   $28.00   +  $8.00   S@H  Shipped Priority Mail 

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Please order your charts by name: Why Wash Your Hands or Germ Farm.

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           Brain Grease, 6 West Broadway,  PO Box 285, Salem, NY 12865

These posters come with a satisfaction guarantee!  Place your order in confidence. If you are not delighted with them, we will return your money! This shows how confident we are that you will love them! Contact: Brain Grease 518-854-3088  6 West Broadway, Salem, NY 12865

PS  Congratulations! Your order for handwashing posters is a positive step in motivating people to wash their hands.  You are taking an active step in promoting a habit that leads to better health for everyone.