We are living in a time when health and hygiene have come in a major public focus. It’s no wonder this is the case, as we have lived through a global health crisis caused by a pandemic. We have started paying much more attention to our health both at home and in public places. Regardless of how how careful we are and how clean and safe our homes are, unless we are also safe in public places, our health is at risk. We are going to talk about the importance of cleanliness and hygiene in public places and how it correlates with our health.
Health and hygiene in public places
The health of the entire community can only be ensured by keeping every member of the said community healthy. It sounds like a very easy task and a simple thing to do, but is it really like that? People get sick all the time because their immune systems can be weakened for a wide variety of reasons. Stress, lack of sleep, travel, bad diet, exhaustion, burnout at work, major life changes… The reasons are many, yet the result is the same: when someone’s immune system is weak, they can get sick much more easily than they otherwise would. And when they get sick and get to public places and spaces, they pose a risk to others too. This is why clean and safe public spaces mean better prevention and control of the possible spread of diseases.
How can hand washing change your life?
There is compelling evidence collected in underdeveloped countries that suggests that proper and regular hand washing can protect your health, mental health, and even your life. Washing your hands with soap and water in the morning, before every meal, and after using the toilet will notably lower your chances of contracting and suffering from a diarrheal illness. Of course, not only is it important to wash your hands regularly, but you should also apply lotion and creams to your hands to prevent excessive skin damage. If you’re in a place without running water, you should disinfect your hands with alcohol-based gel hand sanitizer.
Personal vs. public hygiene
In the present day, people make a much clearer distinction between public health and hygiene, and personal ones. While personal hygiene is clearly the responsibility of each individual separately, public hygiene responsibilities are much more difficult to maintain. While washing our hands in public is a must, people should also find a commercial hand dryer that’s clean and that will thoroughly dry their hands. We should regularly shower, wash our hair and brush our teeth, but when outside, we should wash and disinfect our hands, computers, and doorknobs to our office. Small things such as using a door opener or a button pusher will keep your hands cleaner, and even if you’re not a germophobe, not touching escalator railings or pushing elevator buttons with your bare hands will do you good.
Protect people with chronic illnesses
Whenever a group of people (or different groups of people) are using the public space at the same time, or in a short period of time, there is a real risk of spreading infections and diseases. It’s very difficult keeping public spaces pristine and spotless due to the sheer number of people who frequent the said spaces, yet that’s exactly why we should strive for good cleanliness. When we all do our best to ensure the spaces we visit and use are clean and sanitary, people with weakened immune systems and chronic illnesses are more likely to stay healthy too. Remember, just because you are healthy and safe, it doesn’t mean that someone else won’t get sick. Maintaining our personal hygiene will greatly improve the quality of life and public health in all communities.
Maintain hygiene in public places
We already discussed hand washing, as this is something that can and should be done everywhere (and by everyone). Great progress has been made in the area of public health over the course of the past several decades by implementing vaccines and using antibiotics liberally. Yet, there is much more that can be done by individuals too. Maintaining hygiene in all public toilets (malls, restaurants, train stations, etc.), administration buildings, supermarkets, churches, department stores as well as schools will ensure that everyone stays healthy and safe.
You have probably already noticed how important it is to stay healthy when going out. Not only are you taking care of your health, but by being cautious and responsible, you are taking care of the people around you as well. People in your household, friends and family alike, will be grateful to know that you have taken their health and well-being into account when going out and being out in public. If there is something these past years have taught us, it’s that you can never be too careful about your health.
