urine

what a title eh? i would think that'll catch your attention. this topic came about, of course, in the toilet. i was attending to nature's call when i noticed, not one.. not two.. but three guys who just left without washing their hands! they didn't even acknowledge the existence of the taps! if you're one of those people, please read on.. for the sake of your health. and while on the topic, some really fun but gross facts about the yellow liquid. i hope you're not having a drink while reading this.

why is it important?

if the fact that it's just really disgusting isn't enough, a number of infectious diseases can be spread from one person to another by contaminated hands, particularly gastrointestinal infections and hepatitis A. washing your hands properly can help prevent the spread of the organisms that cause these diseases.
some forms of gastroenteritis can cause serious complications, especially for young children, the elderly or those with a weakened immune system. drying your hands properly is as important as washing them.


when to wash?

after going to the loo isn't the only time to wash your hands. you should wash your hands thoroughly:

• before preparing food
• before eating
• between handling raw and cooked or ready-to-eat food
• after going to the toilet or changing nappies
• after smoking
• after using a tissue or handkerchief
• after handling rubbish or working in the garden
• after handling animals
• after attending to sick children or other family members.

what is the proper way to wash our hands?

1. use large amounts of warm, running water and liquid soap to lather hands and wrists. Scrub all surfaces of your hands and fingers for at least 15 to 20 seconds (note: this is about the same time for you to completely sing the birthday song, if that'll help you remember.) bar soaps can harbor germs which cause infection. Therefore, use liquid soap if available.
2. rinse hands well clean, running water.
3. rinse with hands pointing down to prevent rinse water from running up your arms.
4. dry your hands with either a disposable paper towel or hot air. make sure your hands are really dry.
   
5. shut off the faucet using the paper towel as a barrier between your clean hands and the faucet handle.

fun facts!

• 80 percent of all infectious diseases are passed by human contact, either direct or indirect? That includes viruses like pneumonia, salmonella and the common cold.
• urine is sterile and is safe to drink! oh yes it's true.. this is what i found..

Most people forget that urine is mostly water. Water is the filter of the human body. Waste that our cells produce, collectivley known as urea, ends up in our bloodstream. Our kidneys remove the urea, along with excess water, and the result is urine. When you drink your own urine, you are putting more water back into your system, but you are also putting in the stuff your body is trying to get rid of.

This is not bad for you at first, but if you drink no water, only your own urine for an extended period of time, the urea content of your urine will increase. It becomes difficult to urinate, painfull sometimes. But note, this is after drinking your own urine for days. Its like using a dirty air filter. It works, but soon the filter will become more and more clogged with dust. Just like an air filter, the urine, which now must dispose of more and more waste in the same amount of water, becomes saturated. This is observable, as if you do drink your own urine over a few days it becomes darker in color. Similarly, the more water you drink, the lighter your urine is.

Astronauts on the Apollo 13 mission were stuck in space without power. For the last four days or so of their journey, they had run out of liquid water. They drank their own urine, which kept them from dehydration while they came home.

bottom line, wash your hands! it's a simple task that'll make you healthier. want to know more. click here.