+2 votes
in General Factchecking by Apprentice (1.0k points)
The CDC says, "Washing hands can help you healthy and prevent the spread of respiratory and diarrheal infections. Germs can spread from person to person or from surfaces to people." Therefore, washing your hands is important in order to reduce the likelihood of getting sick.

16 Answers

+1 vote
by Novice (880 points)
edited by

It is true, washing your hands is good for your help and prevents possible infections and unwanted germs entering your body. We use our hands for a lot, nearly everything. From touching the subway rail to hitting an elevator button, germs are everywhere and it is crucial to fight the risk of illness by washing our hands often. The CDC states "Handwashing with soap could protect about 1 out of every 3 young children who get sick". This proves that you should wash your hands, and teach children young to follow the routine as well.

https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/why-handwashing.html

True
by Genius (40.8k points)
It's best to dig deeper and find a source that's not been used within a claim (re: cdc.com). Thanks!
+1 vote
by Apprentice (1.1k points)
Washing your hands is good for your health. Washing hands can keep you healthy and prevent the spread of respiratory and diarrheal infections. Germs can spread from person to person or from surfaces to people when you:

-Touch your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands

-Prepare or eat food and drinks with unwashed hands

-Touch surfaces or objects that have germs on them

-Blow your nose, cough, or sneeze into hands and then touch other people’s hands or common objects

Source:

https://www.cdc.gov/hygiene/personal-hygiene/hands.html#:~:text=Washing%20hands%20can%20keep%20you,and%20drinks%20with%20unwashed%20hands
by Genius (40.8k points)
Nice job with providing a thorough explanation. However, your source could be stronger as it was already used within the claim (re: cdc.com). It's best to dig deeper and find a source that's not been used within a claim, going forward. Thanks!
+1 vote
by Journeyman (2.5k points)

This is true. Washing your hands correctly is an important step to take to avoid getting sick.

Mayo Clinic says, "Although it's impossible to keep your hands germ-free, washing your hands with soap and water frequently can help limit the transfer of bacteria, viruses and other microbes."

This information confirms that of the originally referenced CDC source.

Smithsonian Magazine says, "It’s a short trip for the virus from hand to head. Researchers estimate that, on average, humans touch their faces upwards of 20 times an hour, with about 44 percent of these encounters involving eyes, mouths and noses—some of the quickest entry points into the body’s interior."

Smithsonian Magazine emphasizes how handwashing can help prevent the likelihood of illness. With the high average of touching the face, germs that remain on the hands are easily transmitted to entry points of the body.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/hand-washing/art-20046253

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/why-washing-your-hands-so-important-anyway-180974355/

True
+1 vote
by Apprentice (1.3k points)

Yes, this is true, but in order for washing hands to be most effective, it needs to be performed properly. According to an article by Gavi: " It does not matter how good your soap is if you do not apply it thoroughly enough." If applying the proper hand washing techniques you "could reduce cases of respiratory diseases by 20%, and diarrhoea by 30%." 

Facts collected form this article: https://www.gavi.org/vaccineswork/why-washing-your-hands-so-important-during-pandemic?gclid=Cj0KCQjwu-KiBhCsARIsAPztUF0ekxsVFVwkQp6w82Tcwbjw6tmFECTJWxx4uGxW7KJmsZ01OeC32vAaAiHbEALw_wcB

True
+1 vote
by Newbie (460 points)

Yes! There are many benifets to washing your hands.According to kidshealth.org, "Good hand washing is the first line of defense against the spread of illnesses, including coronavirus (COVID-19). And it helps protect you against everything from the common cold to more serious infections, such as meningitis, bronchiolitis, the fluhepatitis A, and many types of diarrhea." 

Taking that extra two minutes out of ones day to scrub your hands with soap and water can actually save ones health in the future. Its shocking how low of a percentage people actually correctly wash their hands.  

https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/handwashing.html 

True
0 votes
by Novice (580 points)

The claim stated is that washing hands is good for your health and they site the CDC, a very reliable and scientific source, and their credibility. 

It is true that hand-washing is a way to keep you in good health. According to The Mayo Clinic, "Frequent hand-washing is the best way to avoid getting sick and spreading illness." As well, when you are sick it is taught from a very young age many hand washing steps in order to maximize on getting rid of the germs. Also, during the COVID 19 pandemic, individuals were told to wash hands in order to avoid the most amount of germs possible. 

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/hand-washing/art-20046253

True

Community Rules


Be respectful.

There is bound to be disagreement on a site about misinformation. Assume best intentions on everyone's part.

If you are new to factchecking, take some time to learn about it. "How to Factcheck" has some resources for getting started. Even if you disagree with these materials, they'll help you understand the language of this community better.

News Detective is for uncovering misinformation and rumors. This is not a general interest question-answer site for things someone could Google.

Posting

The title is the "main claim" that you're trying to factcheck.

Example:
Factcheck This: Birds don't exist

If possible, LINK TO to the place you saw the claim.

Answering

LINK TO YOUR EVIDENCE or otherwise explain the source ("I called this person, I found it in this book, etc.")

But don't just drop a link. Give an explanation, copy and paste the relevant information, etc.

News Detective is not responsible for anything anyone posts on the platform.
...