Wales’ chief medical officer Dr Tony Jewell explains why it’s important we wash our hands regularly – and properly

THE beginning of a new year is always a good time to start on the right foot towards leading a healthy and active life.

I am always advocating the benefits of physical activity, a healthy mixed diet and a smoke-free life to make us feel better and help our bodies ward off illness.

But many of us will fall ill with common winter illnesses such as colds, flu or the winter vomiting bug. There’s a lot of it about.

The common cold is reported to be the most frequent, acute infectious illness to humans.

In addition to colds we are currently in the midst of seasonal flu.

Although there is a lot of talk about flu in the media, the numbers of people with flu in Wales and the rest of the UK are within normal limits and there are signs that it is reducing now.

However, there are other common illnesses that are not so well known. Each year, it is estimated one in five people in the UK will develop a gastric illness. of which a common cause is norovirus, the winter vomiting and diarrhoea bug.

For most healthy people these illnesses are mild and not life-threatening, but they are unpleasant and to be avoided where possible.

They are caused by viruses, which are commonly transferred to and from our hands from contaminated surfaces, from person to person, by food, or through the air when we cough, sneeze or talk.

While it is not always possible to prevent becoming infected, there are simple practical steps that we can all take to reduce the risk of spreading viruses. And it all boils down to good hygiene.

Studies have shown that good hand washing after using the toilet reduces the spread of gastrointestinal infections like norovirus or bacteria such as E.coli.

And everyone should cover their mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing. If we cough or sneeze onto our hands, we are likely to spread germs to anything we touch, including other people, work surfaces, door handles, food, clothing – the list is endless.

Thorough washing with soap and warm running water removes most germs and viruses from our hands.

Liquid soap is better than solid soap because it is less likely to become contaminated from other people, and because viruses like wet surfaces.

For the same reason, nail brushes are not recommended, and in public toilets disposable paper towels or hot air dryers are the best option for drying hands.

Disinfecting hand gel can be used when you are on the go.

Following the 2009 swine flu pandemic, most people are aware of the phrase catch it, bin it, kill it.

These simple steps are still relevant this year.

If you catch your cough or sneeze in a tissue, you can then bin the tissue, preventing the virus from being passed on through the air or through the surfaces you touch. Washing your hands will then kill any remaining germs.

As adults, washing our hands should be part of our daily routine. However, it is equally important to instil it in children too.

If we teach them the importance of good, regular hand washing, we minimise the risk of infection, not only in their school years but as they grow up.

Health professionals are also doing their part to limit the spread of viruses, and healthcare-related infections.

Good hand hygiene is one of the most effective ways of preventing the spread of infections such as MRSA or Clostridium difficile.

Most of us think we wash our hands enough, but just imagine that you could see germs and think of all the things you’ve touched since you last coughed, sneezed, or been to the toilet.

We might then wash our hands a little bit more and hope others do to.