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VOA - Voice of America |
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A special English
Health Report |
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Hand washing is a
powerful
way
to
prevent
the
spread
of
disease. The World
Bank, the United Nations and the London School of Hygiene and
Tropical Medicine did a study to
urge hand washing
around the world. |
They
found
that one
million
lives
could
be saved
each
year
if people washed their hands with
soap
often. They
said that programs to
increase
hand washing with soap could be
among
the most
effective
ways to
reduce infectious disease. |
Doctors say many diseases can be prevented from spreading by hand
washing. These include
pinworms,
influenza,
the common
cold,
hepatitis A, meningitis and infectious diarrhea.
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Hand washing
destroys
germs from other people, animals or objects a person has
touched. When
people get bacteria on their hands, they can infect themselves by
touching their eyes,
nose
or
mouth. Then
these people can infect other people. |
The
experts say the
easiest way
to catch
a cold is to touch your nose or eyes after someone
nearby
has
sneezed
or
coughed. Another
way to
become sick is to eat food
prepared by someone
whose
hands were not
clean. |
The
experts say that hand washing is especially important before and
after preparing food, before eating and after using the
toilet. People
should wash their
hands after
handling
animals or animal
waste,
and after cleaning a baby. |
The
experts say it is also a good idea to wash your hands after
handling money and after sneezing or coughing. And it is important
to wash your hands
often
when someone in your home is sick. |
The
experts say the most effective way to wash your hands is
to rub them together
while using soap
and
warm water.
They say you do not have to use special antibacterial soap.
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Be sure to rub all
areas of the hands
for about ten to fifteen seconds. The rubbing action helps
remove germs. Then
rinse
the hands with water and
dry them.
Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are rubbed into the hands and
do not
require soap
and water. Experts say these products
must contain
at least sixty
percent alcohol to be effective
in killing most
bacteria and viruses. |
Experts also say that people who use public bathrooms and dry
their hands with a
paper towel
should use the towel
to turn off
the
water. Then,
before throwing it way, use the same paper to open the bathroom
door. |
And
that's the VOA Special English Health Report, written by Nancy
Steinbach. I'm Steve Ember. |
Source:
VOA - Voice of America |
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MAS "SALUD Y BIENESTAR"
FORO
INICIO |