Handwashing with soap and warm water is a do it yourself vaccine that can help prevent diseases and saves lives.  The handwashing  technique  is usually encouraged with young children but proper washing of the hands is a must among the elderly, who are most susceptible to diseases of all ages.  Thirty-five senior citizens were taught the proper technique of washing their hands to help keep the flu vaccine and other diseases from spreading at the center.   Many of the older citizens had  forgotten  the importance of washing their hands several times a day, depending on what activities they are  involved in.  With the follow up of using the glow warm to test those that were really washing their hands, only 2 out of the 35 had zero glow lotions on their hands.  The other 33 needed to be reminded of the time they should spend in washing their hands, an using warm water.    Hopefully this lesson will help keep the flu epedicimic and other diseases  out of the Senior Center.  Handwashing with soap is the most effective and inexpensive way to prevent death for millions of children in developing countries every year. Despite its lifesaving potential, handwashing with soap is seldom practiced.

Even in the United States, where soap is plentiful, hand washing doesn’t happen as often as it should.