This archive report was first published on 16 June 2020.
At a time when personal hygiene is more important than ever, it's essential to make hand washing a daily habit. Research has shown that people touch their face 23 times an hour on average, with 10 of those touches being to the eyes, nose, or mouth – the main pathways for bacterial or viral infection.
According to a 2015 study by the University of New South Wales, published in the American Journal of Infection Control, hand washing is the most basic step in personal hygiene. The American Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) calls it a 'do-it-yourself' vaccine, and the United Nations (UN) has designated October 15 as Global Handwashing Day since 2008.
To help people develop a habit of properly washing their hands, Samsung has launched a Hand Wash application for wearable users. The app is available for download on the Galaxy Store for Gear S3, Gear Sports, Galaxy Watch, Galaxy Watch Active, and Galaxy Watch Active2 users.
While awareness of the importance of washing one's hands frequently and thoroughly has increased, opinions can differ on what 'frequently and thoroughly' means in practice. Samsung's Hand Wash app provides a clear guide on how and how regularly users should wash their hands.
The app includes an alarm function that allows users to set reminders to wash their hands at regular intervals. For example, users can set an alarm to notify them every two hours to wash their hands. The number of alarms each user sets corresponds to a target number on the app's dashboard.
Washing hands thoroughly is also crucial. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends washing hands for at least 20 seconds – roughly the time it takes to sing the 'Happy Birthday' song twice. Samsung's Hand Wash app features a countdown function that provides haptic feedback and graphics to help users wash their hands properly.
Users can also track their personal hygiene on the app's dashboard, which logs each day's handwashing occurrences and provides a weekly average. The app's Trend Tracking function helps users build their handwashing habit by monitoring their progress over time.
When washing hands, it's essential to follow the 6 steps of handwashing: scrubbing palms, areas in between fingers, and the backs of hands. By following these steps and using the Hand Wash app, users can effectively prevent the spread of germs and maintain good personal hygiene.
