Video #2—"Keeping Ourselves and Families Clean.”--Hygiene
Part I
Hygiene is important for two reasons: it prevents disease,
and it helps a person to fit in and be accepted.
If your goal is to fit into your new country and its
people, learning its hygiene methods and emphasis on cleanliness will be
important. This will help you and your
family have better relationships at school and at work. You may already be doing these things, and if
so, that’s great. Please don’t take
offense, but it is important to say these things and not take them for
granted. If you are not doing these
things already, then making a few changes in your routine may help you a lot in
making new friends and acquaintances.
There are some diseases which are highly contagious
and are caused by poor hygiene. These
include pinworm, athletes foot, lice, ringworm and others.
Hands
The most important thing to understand is the emphasis
on hand washing in America. You have
probably been taught to do this when you were growing up. Just as in the East, Americans are taught to
do it before and after eating. It is
also important to do it before and after meal preparation; after using the
toilet; after handling trash, dirt, or diapers; and after petting an animal. Many
eye diseases, such as pink eye, can be prevented by washing hands. Washing your face is also important. By washing it in the morning and at night,
you can help prevent problems such as acne, Bathing with soap at least three
times a week is expected. Most Americans
shower rather than taking baths because it is more convenient. Two out of three Americans shower every day.
Keeping nails clean and trimmed can help prevent the
spread of infections such as pinworms.
There are at least 50 types of germs that can exist under
fingernails. Dirty fingernails tend to
provoke negative reactions in Americans.
Body
Even if a person does not think that they have body
odor, it may still be noticeable to others.
Routine washing and deodorant are the main ways to prevent this,
although having clean clothes also helps.
Body odor is especially a problem during summer months. Deodorant needs to be used by teenagers and
adults every day. 92% of Americans use some form of it.
Hair
On average, Americans shampoo their hair four to five
times a week. However, experts actually
recommend washing one’s hair about two to three times a week with shampoo.
Special hair oils can be useful for hair care. Other types of oil can make hair look greasy
and as if it has not been washed. Shampooing
followed by conditioner is used to remove excess oil. The conditioner untangles the hair and makes
it softer. (I am going to need some
input on this from somebody who really knows.)
Teeth
Care of teeth--Dental visits are recommended every six
months. In between dental visits,
brushing is important. Here is a video
of someone brushing correctly:
(video here.)
Brushing teeth with toothpaste both helps prevent
cavities but also freshens the breath and prevents odors. Most Americans brush their teeth twice a day
for about two minutes at a time. For
example, they may brush after breakfast and after supper. This way there are long periods of time
without food residue on the teeth. Teeth
flossing (which uses something that looks like string), or using specially
designed toothpicks to remove food that is trapped between teeth,Q also improves the health of your teeth. When food is not removed from teeth bacteria
grow. Eventually, bacteria and acid reach the inner portions of the tooth. Then, finally, they reach the nerve, causing
pain. Seek care from a dentist if you
have persistent pain, as a small problem can become a big problem, leading to
an expensive and painful dental procedure, or even losing one or more teeth.
In America we put fluoride in tap water. This helps
prevent tooth decay. Bottled water does
not contain fluoride. So drinking tap
water is actually good for your teeth, especially for children. Reducing sugar intake or using sugar
substitutes rather than sugar also helps control bacteria and tooth decay. Examples of non-sugar sweeteners include
Sweet and Low, Splenda, and Equal.
(video here)
Lice and Scabies.
Lice are small insects that live in human hair. They are parasites and are very contagious
from person to person. The main way to
control them is not to share head gear, combs, or pillows that have been used
by someone else. Laying on the couch or
bed of another person is also to be avoided.
If there is a question of whether lice are present, see a doctor. In addition, you can wash and dry clothing of
an infected person at high temperatures.
Combs can be soaked in very hot water for 5-10 minutes. There are medications that can be combed into
the hair to cure lice.
Scabies is caused by scabies mites, which are like
insects. They burrow under the skin and
cause a rash. Scabies can be transferred
from one member of the family to another rather quickly. Scabies is not caused by being dirty. Instead, it is caused by skin to skin contact
or contact with the bedding of another person.
However, once scabies arises in a family, all clothes and bedding have
to be cleaned by washing them at a high temperature. Scabies mites in clothing can be killed by
sealing off articles of clothing for three days.
Part II
Using dishwashers and washing machines. Washing dishes by hand is still an acceptable
practice in America although most prefer the convenience of the
dishwasher. It saves time. But even more
important is that the water temperature reached in dishwashers is hot enough to
kill most germs. In addition, a
dishwasher dries the dishes; a dish towel can become a source of germs. The drying cycle of the dishwasher means
there is one less source of contamination.
When using a dishwasher make sure that you are using a special
dishwasher type of soap.
(video here)
If you choose to wash things by hand, make sure that
you use very hot water, dishwashing soap, and dishcloth. If you dry dishes by
hand, use a clean towel. All towels need
to be laundered at least once a week.
Using washing machines. In America, practically all clothes are
washed by machine. Only delicate clothes
and fabrics are washed by hand. Using a
washing machine is not done for health reasons.
Instead, having clean clothes is important for looking good and
preventing smells. Clothes should be
worn one or two days and then laundered.
Jeans are sometimes worn longer than that, and coats even longer. Certain fabrics have to be washed by hand,
however, or washed in a cold or gentle wash cycle in a washing machine.
Handling garbage.
Garbage has to be handled carefully.
If food is left out, it attracts mice and roaches, which will multiply
and spread to other apartments. Mice and
roaches cause feelings of disgust in most people, but even more importantly,
they can spread germs that cause infections.
Food which is left out can cause food poisoning. If a problem develops, it may be necessary to
take garbage to designated dumpsters on a daily basis. In an apartment, one can be asked to move out
if garbage is attracting pests.
Changing
diapers also creates possible problems.
Do it in a restricted area away from food preparation or where people
eat. Women’s restrooms in large stores
usually have a diaper changing station where these can be changed in a
convenient and hygienic manner.
While
Americans generally value neatness and cleanliness, keeping things clean is
most important in kitchens and bathrooms.
Clean the bathroom regularly, including the toilet and lavatory, with some
type of housekeeping detergent. Mold can
grow if there is too much water left on the floor, and it can eventually create
lung problems. Don't let water collect
on bathroom floors. It can cause mold
which in turn can cause health problems.
Landlords do not like for mold to built up in bathrooms. For this reason, use the plastic shower
curtain to keep water insider the tub area.
Kitchen
sinks and counters are usually cleaned with some form of soap that contains
bacteria killing chemicals. You will
usually see the word “antimicrobial” on the labels of these.
When
cleaning the bathroom, it is a good opportunity to change the towels and put in
fresh ones. Towels can start to develop
bacteria in them. Americans don't share
their towels with others. They wash their towels once or twice a week. Keep a supply of toilet paper so that you
don’t run out. Using toilet paper
reduces smells and discomfort. Not using
it can lead to urinary tract infections in women.
If you have
babies or toddlers who spend much of their time on the floor, it is especially
important to keep floors clean.
Hygiene is
not just for you personally, it is also for your family and for your
community.
Keep the
playgrounds, entertainment parks, classrooms, buses and other public places
clean. Don't drop food, diapers, or water bottles on the ground. Put them in the trash cans. This allows other people to enjoy the space
and helps prevent animals from coming around.
Moreover, you can get a ticket for littering. If you throw something out of a car window
you are likely to get disapproving looks from other drivers.
Urinating in
public places is not acceptable, even if it is a child. It is offensive to Americans. It causes smells, and it is unsanitary. This can also be a cause for eviction where
you live.
Keep your
food inside the refrigerator. The cold
air keeps bacteria from developing, and it also keeps away insects. Fruit and vegetables which have not been cut
open can usually be unrefrigerated for a few days.
(video here)
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