hand washing

You can do a lot of things with minimal risk after being vaccinated. Although our public health expert says that maybe it's not quite time for a rave or other tightly packed events. Above: Fans take photographs of Megan Thee Stallion at a London show in 2

Health & Safety

Coronavirus FAQ: You're Vaccinated. Cool! Now About Those 'Breakthrough' Infections...

3:41pm April 16, 2021

by Sheila Mulrooney Eldred

No vaccine is 100% effective. Though so-called "breakthrough" COVID cases are rare, the virus is circulating widely. What's a vaccinated person to do? And ... not do?

(Left to right) Tippy Tap, Oxfam hand-washing station and SolaWash

A Tale Of The Taps: Which Hand-Washing Station Is Best In Emergencies?

9:29am February 24, 2021

by Rosemary Misdary

In areas with limited access to clean running water, hand-washing stations can help limit the spread of disease. But experts say not all taps are created equal.

Health & Safety

Do You Know The Right Way To Wash Your Hands? Watch This Video Aimed At Halting Ebola

7:27pm November 19, 2018

by Nurith Aizenman

There are six separate steps in the video from Democratic Republic of the Congo — and that's not counting "abundantly" wetting your hands and lathering up.

What You Might Not Realize About The Benefits Of Hand-Washing

7:03pm March 06, 2018

by Marc Silver

Norovirus is that awful ailment that can make you barf and suffer from diarrhea. A new study tries to figure out the best way to stop it.

Dishwashers have come a long way since this 1921 model, which was designed mainly to help minimize the drudgery of housework. But today's sleek models are also designed with water conservation in mind.

To Save Water, Should You Wash Your Hands Of Hand Washing Dishes?

4:51pm November 24, 2017

by Natalie Jacewicz

The sustainable choice between the dishwasher and a manual scrub-down may just boil down to your washing style — but it's hard to beat today's efficient machines.

It's not just medical personnel who should be washing hands to reduce the spread of germs. The patient should be, too.

Patients Leave The Hospital With Superbugs On Their Hands

1:36pm March 15, 2016

by Shefali Luthra

Hospitals have pushed staff to wash their hands in an effort to curb the spread of dangerous microbes. But patients' hands are infected, too, a study finds, and can spread bugs to other facilities.

It's A Necklace And It Could Be A Lifesaver: Wearable Health Gadgets

4:38pm November 17, 2015

by Fran Kritz

The challenge from UNICEF: Make a wearable device that can improve health. And the winners are...

Drink as much water as you want, goats — just don't eat the soap!

Goats Who Eat Soap Are The Enemy Of Global Handwashing Day

4:05pm October 15, 2015

by Fran Kritz

We're not kidding around. Goats chew up soap that could help remove germs from hands around the world. And they're not the only obstacle to better hygiene.

Semmelweis considered scientific inquiry part of his mission as a physician.

The Doctor Who Championed Hand-Washing And Briefly Saved Lives

2:55pm February 11, 2015

by Rebecca Davis

One of the most important medical advances may also be the simplest: hand-washing. It's the best defense against spreading disease. And its power was discovered long before anyone knew about germs.

Queue Listen Now

On the streets of Liberia, chlorinated water is available for hand washing.

Fashion Police: Why Are You Wearing Rubber Boots In Liberia?

11:12pm October 24, 2014

by Michaeleen Doucleff

Like most people in Monrovia, our correspondent is constantly washing her hands with chlorinated water. But her booted feet are drawing strange looks.