By Pauline Tom.
Facebook provided me a tidbit from Donna Helm, and Donna graciously gave permission to segue into a hand washing thread.
Donna’s parents, Roy (84) and Nelda (86) Smith in Lampasas, got a horrible stomach virus that landed them in the hospital. Donna and Steve went to help, and she disinfected the house. Donna stayed in. She and her mom went to pick up her dad from the hospital on Monday. Donna commented, “Just pray I don’t get this horrible virus.”
That prompted me to bring to the surface some lying dormant hand washing tidbits. Yes, hand washing. I find these interesting and helpful, so I’m sharing.
Back during rampant flu season, hand washing instructions during a newscast perked my ears. I realized I had not handled hand washing with care.
Are you still reading? I promise, hand held high, it’s highly unlikely you know all of this.
Center for Disease Control (quoted throughout this column) says hand washing is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of infection and illness in all seasons. Clean hands can stop germs from spreading throughout an entire community.
How many germs can live in one gram of poop? One trillion!
Hand washing is like a “do-it-yourself vaccine” – it involves five simple and effective steps (think wet, lather, scrub, rinse, dry) you can take to reduce the spread of diarrheal and respiratory illnesses so you can stay healthy.
Cold water works as well as hot.
And, antibacterial soap has not been proven to work better than “plain” soap. In fact, it plays a part in “antibacterial resistance”, as bacteria develop stronger strains that are resistant to antibiotics, when many people overuse antibacterial gels and soaps.
CDC details, “turn off the faucet” after wetting hands. Wow! That doubles as a tip for Central Texas water conservation. Many gallons of water are saved when water is turned off during hand washing and tooth brushing and dish rinsing and washing.
The tidbit that jumped out during the newscast was the value of vigorous scrubbing – to the point that the scrubbing is of upmost importance.
Everywhere, hand-washing instructions say “at least 20 seconds”. Just sing “Happy Birthday” twice as a timer.
After rinsing, turn off the faucet with a one-use towel.
Today the essentialness of “dry completely” hit home. “Wet hands are more likely than even dirty hands to carry germs.” Drying hands with hair while dashing out doesn’t work.
Donna reports that she is scrubbing her hands.
•••
James Polk tidbitted that Eastern Bluebirds completed a nest in the nestbox between his house and Melvin Curtice’s driveway.
I’m hoping some of the pine needles we hauled from East Texas to insulate plants during cold weather will be used for nests.
Everyone says hummers are thick and they are taking long drinks as they are arrive from their wintering grounds in Southern Mexico and Central America. Three were drinking from one of our feeders on Monday morning, with a fourth sitting and waiting for a turn.
I’m sitting by, waiting for “Montage” tidbits. I think it’s your turn! Email [email protected] or call 512-268-5678.
Thanks! Love, Pauline
