The winter virus season is upon us. The villains in this story—influenza, RSV, COVID, norovirus, the common cold and others—all flourish wherever people gather indoors.

Luckily, we also have a hero on our side. It’s an often underappreciated, unsung hero, but it’s one we can all rely upon to help keep us and our families as healthy as possible despite the viral influx.

The hero is…handwashing!

“Good handwashing is truly the most important thing,” said Tracy Williams, Prowers Medical Center Employee Health Nurse. “It really helps prevent infection spread.”

In honor of National Handwashing Awareness Week (December 3-9, 2023), let’s take a look at some common myths and truths about handwashing. Answer True or False for each question, then read the answers below.

1. We often pick up viruses and bacteria on our hands. T/F

2. We touch our faces about 10 times an hour. T/F

3. Places that are clean don’t harbor viruses and bacteria. T/F

4. Cold water is fine for handwashing. T/F

5. You need antibacterial soap to kill germs. T/F

6. Using hand sanitizer is just as effective as handwashing. T/F

7. Washing your hands for at least 20 seconds is important. T/F

8. It doesn’t matter if you dry your hands after washing them. T/F

A Time for Gratitude

As 2023 comes to a close, we’d like to express our gratitude to the Prowers Medical Center staff and physicians for their tireless dedication to caring for our community.

Health care is an essential service, and our team members are essential to health care in Prowers County.

1. True. Our hands carry germs because we use them to touch nearly everything. Viruses and bacteria cling to our hands, then we use our hands to touch our eyes, nose and mouth—all places where germs enter the body.

2. False. Studies show we touch our faces about 50 times an hour without realizing it!

3. False. Anywhere you find people breathing and speaking (not to mention coughing and sneezing), tiny droplets of saliva are constantly being released into the air and landing on surfaces. Places that look clean could still be contaminated by these pathogens.

4. True. Water temperature doesn’t affect microbe removal. Use whatever temperature you find comfortable.

5. False. Regular or antibacterial soap, friction and water are what remove germs from skin.

6. False. Alcohol-based (at least 60%) hand sanitizers do kill some germs. They are convenient and are better than nothing when you can’t wash your hands, but they’re not as effective as plain old soap and water at removing all germs.

7. True. Hum the Happy Birthday song to yourself twice while you scrub, including under the nails and up to the wrists.

8. False. Germs are more easily picked up by wet hands, so dry them thoroughly after washing. Heath Perdue, Prowers Medical Center Infection Preventionist, says we should all be washing our hands:

• before, during and after making food

• before eating

• before and after caring for someone who’s sick

• before and after caring for a cut or sore

• after using the toilet

• after touching an animal or animal food or waste

• after touching garbage

• after blowing our nose, coughing or sneezing

• after leaving a public place

• after touching objects or surfaces that may have also been touched by many people

• when they look dirty

Handwashing—it’s our hero. Here’s to clean hands and a healthy holiday season.

If you or someone in your family gets sick this winter, make an appointment to see a family-care provider at Prowers Medical Center by calling 719-336-6767.