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

Four summer hotspots for germs – and why not washing your hands is not going to strengthen your immune system

Summer is a time of sunny fun. Outside, from a cushty day to the fields of festivals and food filled under the open skies. But with the enjoyment of the season, there may be a negative aspect of neglect: a significant threat to infection.

Hot weather, increasing social interactions and more often with the environment, make it easier to spread germs. This is why hand washing is very vital in the summertime months. This will not be glamorous, but clean hands are the primary line of defense against the germs that prefer to crash summer plans.

Germs grow in warmth and humidity, and the activities we enjoy in the summertime often come near surfaces, food and water sources that help them spread them.

1. Public toilets and joint toilets

Outdoor festivals, service stations, beaches and campuses all depend on public toilet facilities. These high traffic areas can turn out to be bacteria resembling Salmonella and for the enhancement. Viruses resembling Norvirus and Flu also spread through contaminated surfaces. Even Corona virus Bad or inadequate clean environment can remain in a clean environment.

It is vital to scrub your hands thoroughly after using public toilets – and in case your hands are clearly dirty, the hand sanitary can’t be enough.

The worrying thing is that even in places where hygiene is inevitable, like hospitals, people often quit this basic move. A 2025 studies It is found that despite the clear reminders, half of the pilgrims near the hospital have failed to scrub their hands after using toilets. If many individuals leave hands wash in hospitals, where the risks are clear and facilities are available, what number of more individuals are failing to achieve this in summer events, where soap and water shortages might be done?

2. Exterior meals and preparations for food

Barbecies and picnic are the primary places of summer – but they arrive with a risk. Foods develop pathogens resembling salmonella, and hot temperatures. Low cooked meat, poor hand hygiene and food within the sun can easily convert a festive gathering into a toxic shock to food.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=claaaustjvzy

Even like fungus Can grow on food and produce micotoxin: toxic compounds that may cause nausea, organ damage and even longer -term damage when eaten.

Wash hands before and after taking the meal, especially after touching raw meat and shared surfaces resembling picnic tables, barbecue tools and cold boxes.

3. Swimming and water game

Lakes, rivers, swimming ponds and sea can port all harmful germs. Parasites resembling cryptocurrency and Jardia may cause gastrointestinal disease – and so they are sometimes proof against chlorine. Beach sand and seawater Faculty bacteria can be taken.

Whether you’re swimming, pedaling or merely making sandcases, ensure to scrub or clean your face before eating or touching your face.

4. Camp, playground and festive

Summer is liable to summer infection resembling group settings resembling summer camps, soft play centers and playgrounds.

A American study In seven years, 229 Youth Camp – reported the outbreak of the gastrointestinal gastrointestinal tract. Ordinary criminals included developing the Noro virus, salmonella and Shega toxins, especially dangerous stress, causing severe illness and kidney failure.

In one incident, 20 camps became unwell, and three were admitted to the hospital after a meal Under -Cockded cow meat cooked on campfire. Common toilet facilities, preparation for sectarian food and strict gold arrangements increase the importance of all hand hygiene.

But isn't it good to 'be a bit dirty'?

Some people imagine that letting children get dirty helps construct their immune system. Although early exposure to natural microbes from soil, animals, or environment may support immune development, it will not be akin to leaving hand washing after the bathroom use or before eating.

Leaving the handed hands doesn’t stabilize the immune system – it increases the chance of the disease. No reliable study shows that poor hygiene is nice for you. On the contrary, without washing hands are a vital reason for prevention infections around the globe. This risk is very serious for young children, older adults and people with weak immune system.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w04gtxu1mhm

Hand hygiene is straightforward, low cost and efficient – and isn’t more vital than summer. As the hospital's toilet study shows, we cannot imagine that folks are washing their hands properly in places designed to guard health. Increase the chaos or music festival of a camp site, and it’s even easier to forget.

Therefore, whether you’re mountain climbing, camping or dancing in a field, it is best to wash your hands with soap and clean water for at the very least 20 seconds after which dry them properly because moist hands easily spread germs. If SOAP and water usually are not available, use a hand sanitary (at the very least 60 % alcohol) and in case you can't depend on public facilities, keep in your bag ideally.