Hygiene in the home consists to a large extent in curbing bacterial infection by household cleanliness, personal grooming and care in the preparation and storage of food.
Bacteria are minute organisms,
commonly called germs - some dangerous to man and some harmless – which can only be seen with the help of a microscope. Different types of bacteria are responsible for such diseases as pneumonia, tuberculosis, various fevers, food poisoning, etc. It is true that a healthy body can often withstand an invasion of germs (provided this is not too heavy) and if one does succumb, many valuable antiseptics and antibiotics can be called in to control infection. However, this is very definitely one of the cases where prevention is better than cure and it is only common sense to avoid as far as possible any concentrations of what may be harmful germs.
Most bacteria grow best in a warm, moist situation, with a handy supply of suitable food, and given these conditions they multiply very quickly, so that one germ can develop into many millions in a few hours. Fresh air and general cleanliness are thus our two best weapons. Rooms should be adequately ventilated and regularly cleaned, clothing regularly washed, all foodstuffs protected against flies, vermin and dust and handled with clean hands. Plenty of hot water for personal washing, washing up, laundry work and cleaning is obviously a very important element in household hygiene.
A few Simple precautions will ensure hygienic dish-washing. Dish cloths and tea towels should be frequently washed (and preferably boiled). If the water is hot enough and the crockery/cutlery rinsed in clean water, the tea towel can be dispensed with to a large extent, dishes etc being dried in the plate rack.
Every parent should take steps to protect their family's health by a few simple rules, such as training children to wash their hands after using the lavatory and not to cough and sneeze over other people or over food, in the home or in Shops or restaurants.
Infections can be quickly spread round a family; so if any members are suffering from a sore throat it is necessary to be particularly careful to see that they keep to their own face cloth and towel and that cups and spoons are washed separately in hot water containing a disinfectant.
Similar precautions should also be taken if any member of the family is suffering from diarrhoea and/or vomiting.
Disinfect the lavatory pan, the seat and the handle of the flush mechanism – dangerous germs are so easily passed round.
Food Hygiene: Perishable foods should be kept in a refrigerator or, failing this, in a cool, airy larder. It is particularly important to protect milk, cream, cooked meats and fish against contamination, as they make an ideal medium for the growth of the bacteria which may lead to food poisoning. These foods should always be placed in as cool a place as possible and should be kept covered, though cooked meat and fish require some ventilation, unless they are stored at refrigerator temperature.
