20-second move THWARTS risk of ‘tripledemic’?

A couple weeks ago, I came across a story in U.S. News & World Report that touted a potential “return” to self-masking thanks to a rise in cases of COVID-19, the flu, and RSV…

A triple-whammy many are calling a TRIPLEDEMIC.

This is the time of year that most of these respiratory viruses annually tick up.

(Yes, COVID-19 adds another wrinkle compared to past cold and flu seasons.)

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

And I’ll show you how defending yourself only takes 20-seconds of your time.

So, don’t dust off that mask just yet…

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

20 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 (even if you have to slowly count it out mentally).

Now, for many folks, frequent hand washing can lead to dry, cracked skin. If you’re worried about this (or this has happened to you in the past), there are simple steps you can take 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.

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

And this also goes without saying…

If you do feel sick, STAY HOME until your symptoms subside!

To using common sense,

Sarah Reagan

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/

Smith-Schoenwalder, Cecilia. “‘Tripledemic’ of COVID-19, Flu and RSV Prompts Return of Some Mask Recommendations.” https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/e2-80-98tripledemic-e2-80-99-of-covid-19-flu-and-rsv-prompts-return-of-some-mask-recommendations/ar-AA15cjgK