"The groundwork of all happiness is health." - Leigh Hunt

One in five 18- to 24-year-olds don't wash their hands at festivals. Here's what it is advisable to find out about hand hygiene.

Like making best friends with strangers in the following tent, peeing in cups because you may't face the queues for portaloos and using wet wipes as an alternative to a shower, getting a little bit dirty is a component of the summer festival experience. is a component. But, even should you can't wash your hair for days – regardless of what condition it’s in – and your face is in the identical glow throughout the festival, there may be one rule that you must follow. Actions to be taken should you want your festival experience to be as fun as possible: Wash your hands often.

You might think this could go without saying – nevertheless it doesn't. In 2023, a UK survey of 1,500 18- to 24-year-old festival goers found that 22% of youth Do not wash their hands while they’re on the festival, even in the event that they are there for days. An additional 26% said they only wash their hands once a day – and 31% admitted they don't even wash their hands after going to the bathroom.

Most participants suggested that queues for facilities – or lack of facilities – were the rationale they didn’t wash their hands. But, in lots of, much larger studies—conducted when facilities can be found— Only 51 percent of people Wash your hands after using the bathroom. Even throughout the Covid pandemic, only 42% of university students within the UK reported washing their hands “mostly” or “always” when advisable.

So, while an absence of facilities at festivals could also be a part of the issue, there's clearly so much more happening.

Hand washing seems really easy – and quick – to do, but Research shows Those bad habits, being in a rush and having other priorities are all the reason why many individuals still don't wash their hands. According to a 2022 study in Canada, Some 18- to 25-year-olds reported a perception that washing hands in dirty areas would contaminate hands greater than skipping hand washing altogether.

Other participants said they “forgot” to scrub their hands. University students sometimes had “unrealistic optimism”, believing that the infection had happened to other people but was unlikely to occur to them.


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Whether the shortage or lack of amenities is the reason behind dirty hands or the same old rules of hygiene don't appear to suit the happy-go-lucky lifestyle of festival life, festival-goers should still watch out about washing their messes. Even in the event that they happily ignore every other a part of their body. Why? Because dirty hands can end the fun quickly.

hand hygiene, Wash hands with soap and using water or Wine hand gel Helps prevent infectious diseases, including those related to diarrhea, respiratory infections and the flu. The pandemic reminded us of the link between hand hygiene and infection – and that we're not washing our hands often, well, or long enough.

Dealing with lack of amenities or dirty amenities is fairly easy should you follow these easy suggestions:

Pack loads of alcohol hand gel.. And keep it with you throughout the festival. People got into the habit of carrying hand sanitizer throughout the pandemic, and gel is now available. Although it is just not effective on some pests, including Noroviruswhich causes diarrhea – much more painful In a festival Compared to doing Wash your hands Regularly – This is healthier than soap and water at removing most bacteria.

Always wash your hands after using the bathroom.. Hundreds, possibly hundreds of individuals are using these restrooms – most of them without washing their hands – so keep yourself joyful and healthy by disinfecting your hands thoroughly afterwards.

Always wash your hands before eating.. Festival food often involves food you eat along with your hands, equivalent to burgers, burritos, or pizza. To be sure that you don't pick up stomach bugs, at all times sanitize your hands beforehand.

Wash your hands with bottled water.. Most festival-goers carry bottled drinking water. Although it’s less effective than using soap, the friction created by rubbing hands under water not only removes physical and visual dirt, but may also loosen bacteria from the hands for laundry. Most festivals have water stations to top up bottles. Don't forget that water bottles themselves can harbor bacteria. Rinsing and rubbing the bottle while filling may also solve this problem.

Festival-goers can clean their hands without wasting a second of their favorite activities by carrying their very own supply of hand sanitizer – in spite of everything, those that need to queue for the facilities while they watch Dua Lipa Dekh. Must have been? For festival organizers, it could possibly be helpful to distribute hand washing reminder stickers at key locations equivalent to food outlets, portaloos and mobile taps.

And food outlets should keep a bottle of hand gel on the counter for patrons to make use of – the least they will do for purchasers given the costs charged at festivals.

But what about those festival goers who think “it won't happen to me”? Well, infections can – and do – occur to younger people, although they usually tend to get better quickly. Older people.

Remember your festival mantra: Clean your hands, avoid getting infected, and rejoice – not runs.