Did you know that 80% of infectious disease are spread by your hands. These bacterias and pathogens range from germs like the common cold and the flu to dangerous viruses like pneumonia and salmonella and even fecal matter. But where do they come from and how can they be prevented?

Whenever you come in contact with anything, your picking up a plethora of possibly dangerous germs. From the obvious like using the rest room to everyday activities like taking money out of the ATM, shaking hands, or riding the subway your putting yourself, and everyone you come in contact with at potential risk.

For all of you health conscience people out there, we’ve compiled a list of the most common germs found on your hands. Pick them up and take a look, what you don’t see is what can be so dangerous. Including:

• Shigella flexneri. Causes vomiting, headache, diarrhea
• Staphylococcus aureus. Staph Infection
• Pseudomonus aeruginosa. “Hot tub rash” severe, potentially fatal, respiratory disease in cystic fibrosis and elderly
• Streptococcus pyrogens. Causes tonsilitis, sore throats, scarlet fever,impetigo
• Salmonella. Causes severe diarrhea, stomach pain, dizziness, fever
• Rhino virus. Over 200 strains of the common cold
• Proteus vulgaris. Urinary tract infections
• Hepatitis A.Vomiting, liver disorders, jaundice
• Escherichia coli. Kidney failure, uncontrollable fever, death
• Rotavirus. The leading cause of severe, dehydrating diarrhea in infants and young children.
• Echovirus. Meningitis, encephalitis, neonatal sepsis, myocarditis, and chronic infection
• Coxsackie virus. Sore throat, abdominal discomfort, or nausea

And this is only some of the Germs that you could possibly have on your hands right now. Multiplying on the keyboard your typing on and on the door knob that you entered in from, germs are everywhere.

To be fair to the little micro organisms, most of these germs won’t end up hurting you. Your immune system will fight them off and you’ll never even know they were there. But in some cases they do over power, and thats where prevention comes into play.

It’s estimated that 50% of people don’t wash their hands after using the rest room and almost 90% before eating. (snacks count too!) They then touch things you touch, and you touch things someone else touches, and so on. So you can see the importance of proper hand washing.

When to Wash Your Hands

Always wash your hands before:

• Preparing food
• Eating
• Treating wounds or giving medicine
• Touching a sick or injured person
• Inserting or removing contact lenses
• Using the rest room
• Touching your eyes, nose or mouth

Always wash your hands after:

• Preparing food, especially raw meat or poultry
• Using the toilet
• Changing a diaper
• Touching an animal or animal toys, leashes or waste
• Blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing into your hands
• Treating wounds
• Touching a sick or injured person
• Handling garbage or something that could be contaminated, such as a cleaning cloth or soiled shoes

How to Wash Your Hands

• Wet your hands with warm water (as warm as whats comfortable)
• Apply soap or anti-bacterial wash
• Lather for at least 20 seconds (studies have shown that the longer you lather the more germs are killed)
• Make sure to wash under nails, between fingers, on the back of your hands, and up past your wrists
• Scrub while rinsing your hands and rinse for at least 10 seconds
• Dry your hands thoroughly.

By washing regularly and correctly you can decrease your chance of infection greatly and help stop the spread of germs to other people.

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