H1N1 Flu Virus, Hand Washing and Hand Sanitizers

What you should know.

“One of the most powerful weapons against the new H1N1 virus is summed up in a three-word phrase you first heard from your mother: wash your hands.” NY Times

The official 2009-2010 flu season begins October 4, 2009. Unfortunately, the H1N1 virus doesn’t realize that!  Reports from the Influenza Division of the Center for Disease Control (CDC) indicate a slightly higher than normal flu activity for this season, with rates of medical visits for influenza-like illnesses at 3.6%, up from the national baseline of 2.4%.  To prevent its spread, follow the same common sense practices we’ve heard most of our lives:

Lather Up!

Follow these simple steps to wash hands with soap and water:

• Wet your hands with warm water and apply soap.
• Rub hands together to make a lather and wash all surfaces.
• Continue lathering for 15-20 seconds. Try singing “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” to gauge the time.
• Rinse hands well under running water.
• Dry your hands using a paper towel or air dryer. If possible, use your paper towel to turn off the faucet.

No Water?

Soap and water are preferred methods, but using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer to clean your hands is an adequate replacement. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers significantly reduce the number of germs on skin and are fast-acting. When using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer:

• Apply product to the palm of one hand.
• Rub hands together.
• Rub the product over all surfaces of hands and fingers until hands are dry.

Hand sanitizers are perfect in a pinch, and Celtic Naturals will be offering an all-natural hand sanitizer beginning October 4, 2009. However, nothing replaces washing your hands with warm soap and water. So whenever possible, use all natural moisturizing soaps with that will protect cuticle health and prevent cracking such as the Cinnamon-bellied Flower Piercer or our anti-microbial/anti-bacterial blend in European Winter.

References:

“FluView: A Weekly Surveillance Report Prepared by the Influenza Division, 2008-2009 Influenza Season Week 35 ending September 5″, 2009Center for Disease Control, http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/pdf/External_F0935.pdf, September 11, 2009

Center for Disease Control, “Wash Your Hands”, http://www.cdc.gov/Features/HandWashing/ September 16, 2009

Parker-Pope, Tara, The New York Times, “With Soap and Water or Sanitizer, a Cleaning That Can Stave Off the Flu”, http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/15/health/15well.html?_r=1 September 14, 2009