Wash Your Hands!

by: Dr. Frederic Saldmann

Published by: Weinstein Books (December 31 release)

Reviewed by Connie Anderson

Subtitle: The Dirty Truth About Germs, Viruses, and Epidemics–and the Simple Ways to Protect Yourself in a Dangerous World.

Okay, I am not ghoulish–but after reading that subtitle, I wondered if I really wanted to read this book–or remain ignorant. It was a real eye opener, and I am sharing what I learned with everybody.

This important book is in 5 parts:

1) The Basics – handshakes; intentional hygiene; ticks, lice and fleas; mycoses; dust mites; germs abroad.

2) Bon appetit – all about cleanliness around food and food preparation.

3) Panic Room – hygiene in the hospital and in the home.

4) Personal hygiene and lifestyle.

5) Germs – that make news and scare us.

You get the idea? Dr. Saldmann wants us to KNOW.

With knowledge of super bugs, confidence that we have antibiotics to treat any germ is now ancient history–like mad cow disease, avian flu (birds), and MRSA (drug resistant staph infections).

The author said that although these dangers exist, there are measures to prevent them. Prevention is still the best defense.

Washing hands is important because we bring our hand to our mouth often (yawning, coughing, eating, toothpick, for some). This allows the germs to enter our system. Hands bring two kinds of germs: 1) One that affects the respiratory (colds, flu) and 2) other affects the digestive system (passed from fecal matter) from not washing hands adequately after using the bathroom.

This book is so packed with vital information that you will want to keep it as a resource.

The seriousness of germs spreading is made clear by the doctor’s statement: There is a 1-
in-3 chance of getting germs into your mouth within two hours from a person who just used the bathroom. This allows the germs to contaminate between 50-75% of the people who shakes hands with that person (or touched something he touched).

If you assumed you are safe from germs, read this book for the true picture. If you run a daycare, business, restaurant, hospital or your home–you can learn about prevention and elimination of germs.

Have you ever wondered about the effectiveness of signs in restaurant bathrooms that say: “All staff must wash their hands after using the bathroom”–and then they have to pull open the germ-filled door with their food preparing or serving hand.

Armchair Interviews says: This is about real risks that can be prevented, reduced or eliminated.