Pre-Reading Questions:
- How often do you wash your hands? Why?
- Do you think washing your hands every day makes your skin dry? Why or why not?
Vocabulary:
- risk /risk/
- threat /thret/
- advise /ad-VAHYZ/
- communal /kuh-MYOON-l/
- emphasize /EM-fuh-sahyz/
[noun] the possibility of something bad happening
Sue stayed indoors to avoid the risk of having the disease.
[noun] the possibility that something unwanted will happen
The bomb threat had everyone in a state of total panic.
[verb] to suggest something
We advised her to check the statements before going public.
[adjective] belonging to or used by a group of people rather than one single person
The communal bathroom remained clean even after being used by many.
[verb] to state or show that something is especially important or deserves special attention
The government emphasized the importance of helping one another in these situations.
People become more conscious in almost everything they touch since the coronavirus outbreak and hand washing has been an important routine in people’s daily lives then. Consistent hand-washing with water and regular use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers can cause rough or dry skin. But, can applying hand cream increase the risk of bacterial growth?
According to the researches of both Dr. Lindsay Broadbent (Centre for Infection and Immunity at Queen’s University Belfast) and Dr. Stephen Griffin (University of Leeds), using hand cream posed no threat to the safety of those who use it; the main issue lies within how one uses it. Proper precautionary steps should be taken when using hand cream. It was always advised to use your own and not lend it to anyone.
The usage of tissue paper when pushing the dispenser was also advised especially when using communal hand lotions. Broadbent and Griffin both use hand cream but they emphasized that the basic hygiene rules such as to always wash your hands with water and soap will always be the best first step in fighting and preventing any diseases.
According to the researches of both Dr. Lindsay Broadbent (Centre for Infection and Immunity at Queen’s University Belfast) and Dr. Stephen Griffin (University of Leeds), using hand cream posed no threat to the safety of those who use it; the main issue lies within how one uses it. Proper precautionary steps should be taken when using hand cream. It was always advised to use your own and not lend it to anyone.
The usage of tissue paper when pushing the dispenser was also advised especially when using communal hand lotions. Broadbent and Griffin both use hand cream but they emphasized that the basic hygiene rules such as to always wash your hands with water and soap will always be the best first step in fighting and preventing any diseases.
Comprehension Questions:
- What did both the doctors agree on based on the article?
- Is hand cream the main threat mentioned in the reading?
- Who was the doctor from the University of Leeds?
- What is the advice when using communal hand lotions?
- In the end, what is still the best way to protect us from the virus?
Discussion Questions:
- Does using hand cream increase our chances of immunity to diseases? Why or why not?
- What do you think are the other steps that we can take to prevent contracting diseases?
- What other products do you use to keep your hands from getting dry?
- Have you ever contracted an infection before? How did you manage to get through it?
- Cite examples of what your community has done to lessen the threat of the virus in your area.