Beat a ‘tripledemic’ in 20 SECONDS

Last month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said a potential TRIPLEDEMIC is looming over our heads this fall and winter.

In other words, it’s time to gear up and give yourself some protection against surging cases of COVID-19, flu, and RSV.

We’re not here to talk about masks, vaccines, or OTC meds…

But this is a reminder that exercising a little common sense can go a long way in staying healthy and preventing the spread of viruses and bugs.

And it only takes 20-seconds of your time.

A study published in the journal Physics of Fluids verified something most of us already know by now…

Twenty seconds of vigorous HAND WASHING is still one of the single BEST ways to dislodge and kill viruses and bacteria!

So, why is this even “news”?!

Because according to the study, the majority of people DON’T wash their hands long enough!

The study found that ONLY 5.3% of people spend 15 seconds or longer washing their hands.

And get this…

The average time spent washing hands is only six seconds!

YUCK!

So, the next time you wash your hands, make an effort to hit that 20-second mark.

Now, for many folks, frequent hand washing can lead to dry, cracked skin. If you’re worried about this (or if it has happened to you in the past), there are simple steps to keep your hands clean and hydrated.

Make sure you rinse your hands thoroughly (in addition to scrubbing them). Often times, soap residue can linger on your hands causing them to dry out. Removing that excess soap will go a long way in preventing dry skin.

Same goes for drying your hands. Make sure you’re getting all of the water off your hands—especially around your knuckles and between your fingers. This is where water can sit and cause dryness.

And don’t forget to lotion your hands to remedy any issues with dry, cracked hands due to hand washing.

So, when it comes to staying healthy this fall and winter, seconds really do matter. And in this case, just 20 seconds could help you stay healthy and germ-free!

To using common sense,

Cory Templeman
Senior Editor, eAlert

Sources:

Study Finds. “Viruses, bacteria can stay on your hands if you don’t wash them for 20 seconds.” https://studyfinds.org/washing-hands-20-seconds-cleans-viruses-bacteria/

Grant, Kara. “Tripledemic? What CDC Recommends for COVID, Flu, and RSV.” https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20231005/what-cdc-recommends-for-possible-tripledemic-this-fall