We Owe It To The World To Be Clean
The history of disease, medicine, and cleanliness all go hand in hand. With all the fear mongering and misinformation going around about COVID-19, I want to spread some peace of mind about what you can do to prevent getting sick.
This is not the first time our country has been fearful over a disease outbreak, but one of the positives from this situation is everyone becomes more aware of cleanliness and we all have an appreciation for public health. It's no secret that disease and sickness spreads/ starts in uncleanliness. Florence Nightingale, a mother in the art of sanitation, changed the industry with her theories on sanitation. Soliders in Turkey were trying to recover in soiled beds, drinking dirty water and other unsanitary conditions. She implemented giving the soliders fresh air and water, and laundering their bed sheets daily, amongst other things. By the time she left the death rate had dropped by 2/3. Pretty impressive!
So, what can we do to protect ourselves? Not just from disease outbreak, but the daily viruses and bacteria that can still inconvenience us with sickness.
1) Wash your hands! This is the number one TOP prevention method you should be using! Wash your hands after using the restroom, before you eat, and when you come home after being out in public! Keep some lotion around too, your hands may get dry. Hand sanitizer is not as effective as hand washing, while it is better than nothing, it is not a replacement. You need to wash your hands front and back for twenty seconds under warm water with soap! A quick splash is not going to get rid of germs! Also, be mindful of touching your eyes, nose, or mouth when you are out in public.
2) Disinfect your home! Hydrogen peroxide, bleach, steam, a UV light held continuously for a few minutes, all these things have high rates of disinfecting success. Make sure you are disinfecting your door knobs and light switches and remotes and phones. Because people don't think of these things as often, they get really germy! When I come home from the grocery store I wipe down my groceries with a disinfecting wipe before storing them away. Afterwards I wash my hands and then fill the sink with hot water, a bit of soap, and a splash of bleach. I then go around and get all the areas I mentioned above. Don't forget to do the outside door knob! If you want to be really thorough change your clothes too. Don't doubt the power of soap and water, you wouldn't wash yourself without it, so don't wash your home without it. Counters need a good cleaning with hot soapy water, then you disinfect afterwards.
-ALWAYS READ INSTRUCTIONS ON YOUR CLEANING PRODUCTS. TO TRULY DISINFECT, MOST PRODUCTS NEED AT LEAST TEN MINUTES.-
3) When in doubt, take cleaning supplies with you! Here's a tip from Hayley Leitch, when your soap is just a sliver, store it away in some Tupperware and put it in your going out bag. Now, if you go out and there is no soap, you have your own! I would also recommend taking a few disinfecting wipes in a plastic bag for wiping down shopping carts, gas pumps, and your card after putting it in a machine. Hundreds of people, if not thousands, have put their germy cards in the card machines. Make sure to clean your afterwards!
4) Get fresh air! If the weather permits, open up your windows in the morning. Letting in fresh air decreases dust mites populations, while also perking up our moods and productivity. Indoor air can be SO MUCH more toxic and polluted than outdoor air, so it's important to let all that out too!
5) Do not wear masks unless you are sick! The masks get moist and warm, which is the perfect breeding ground for bacteria. If you are sick, stay home or if you really have to go out, wear a mask and make sure you have clean hands. UPDATE: The CDC now recommends everyone to wear masks in public.
You don't have to be anal about disinfecting everything every time you go out, we do need a certain level of sickness and germs to build our immune systems. But in times of panic, or flu season, or if you've just been sick, take that extra step to be thorough and you will have peace of mind. Don't be fearful to go out and live your life, you can be prepared and be thorough and your chances of getting sick are much less likely. We put so much faith in the strangers around us to be responsible when they get sick, to vaccinate, and to keep clean. Humanity has a long history of plagues and diseases that have killed millions, but we've also made incredible strides in our knowledge and technology to help prevent and treat illness. With all the knowledge we have, we have the power and the responsibility and resources to be clean. Thank you for reading, Happy Cleaning!
This is not the first time our country has been fearful over a disease outbreak, but one of the positives from this situation is everyone becomes more aware of cleanliness and we all have an appreciation for public health. It's no secret that disease and sickness spreads/ starts in uncleanliness. Florence Nightingale, a mother in the art of sanitation, changed the industry with her theories on sanitation. Soliders in Turkey were trying to recover in soiled beds, drinking dirty water and other unsanitary conditions. She implemented giving the soliders fresh air and water, and laundering their bed sheets daily, amongst other things. By the time she left the death rate had dropped by 2/3. Pretty impressive!
So, what can we do to protect ourselves? Not just from disease outbreak, but the daily viruses and bacteria that can still inconvenience us with sickness.
1) Wash your hands! This is the number one TOP prevention method you should be using! Wash your hands after using the restroom, before you eat, and when you come home after being out in public! Keep some lotion around too, your hands may get dry. Hand sanitizer is not as effective as hand washing, while it is better than nothing, it is not a replacement. You need to wash your hands front and back for twenty seconds under warm water with soap! A quick splash is not going to get rid of germs! Also, be mindful of touching your eyes, nose, or mouth when you are out in public.
2) Disinfect your home! Hydrogen peroxide, bleach, steam, a UV light held continuously for a few minutes, all these things have high rates of disinfecting success. Make sure you are disinfecting your door knobs and light switches and remotes and phones. Because people don't think of these things as often, they get really germy! When I come home from the grocery store I wipe down my groceries with a disinfecting wipe before storing them away. Afterwards I wash my hands and then fill the sink with hot water, a bit of soap, and a splash of bleach. I then go around and get all the areas I mentioned above. Don't forget to do the outside door knob! If you want to be really thorough change your clothes too. Don't doubt the power of soap and water, you wouldn't wash yourself without it, so don't wash your home without it. Counters need a good cleaning with hot soapy water, then you disinfect afterwards.
-ALWAYS READ INSTRUCTIONS ON YOUR CLEANING PRODUCTS. TO TRULY DISINFECT, MOST PRODUCTS NEED AT LEAST TEN MINUTES.-
3) When in doubt, take cleaning supplies with you! Here's a tip from Hayley Leitch, when your soap is just a sliver, store it away in some Tupperware and put it in your going out bag. Now, if you go out and there is no soap, you have your own! I would also recommend taking a few disinfecting wipes in a plastic bag for wiping down shopping carts, gas pumps, and your card after putting it in a machine. Hundreds of people, if not thousands, have put their germy cards in the card machines. Make sure to clean your afterwards!
4) Get fresh air! If the weather permits, open up your windows in the morning. Letting in fresh air decreases dust mites populations, while also perking up our moods and productivity. Indoor air can be SO MUCH more toxic and polluted than outdoor air, so it's important to let all that out too!
5) Do not wear masks unless you are sick! The masks get moist and warm, which is the perfect breeding ground for bacteria. If you are sick, stay home or if you really have to go out, wear a mask and make sure you have clean hands. UPDATE: The CDC now recommends everyone to wear masks in public.
You don't have to be anal about disinfecting everything every time you go out, we do need a certain level of sickness and germs to build our immune systems. But in times of panic, or flu season, or if you've just been sick, take that extra step to be thorough and you will have peace of mind. Don't be fearful to go out and live your life, you can be prepared and be thorough and your chances of getting sick are much less likely. We put so much faith in the strangers around us to be responsible when they get sick, to vaccinate, and to keep clean. Humanity has a long history of plagues and diseases that have killed millions, but we've also made incredible strides in our knowledge and technology to help prevent and treat illness. With all the knowledge we have, we have the power and the responsibility and resources to be clean. Thank you for reading, Happy Cleaning!
Comments
Post a Comment