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Wash

by fluu — last modified 2008-05-23 12:44

Cleaning Your Hands

  • "Handwashing is the single most effective way to prevent the transmission of disease."  - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

  • Washing your hands often is one of the best ways to prevent colds and flu. Germs can live on surfaces for hours, so you never know what you might be picking up throughout the day!

When washing your hands:

  • Wet hands so soap rinses off more easily

  • Use plenty of soap (it doesn't matter if it's regular or antibacterial soap ButtonOrange)

  • Scrub vigorously for at least 15 seconds (approximately the time it takes to sing the "Happy Birthday" song to yourself, twice)

    • Be sure to get under your nails, between your fingers, on the front and back of your hands, around your thumb and across your fingernails!

  • Rinse hands thoroughly

  • Dry with a paper towel - then turn off the faucet and open the bathroom door with the paper towel.  

  • ButtonOrange Click here to read more information from the Centers for Disease Control about hand hygiene and drying your hands.

REDI-US

When Should you Clean your Hands?

Wash your hands or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer:

  • After using the bathroom
  • After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing (especially when you are sick!)
  • Before touching your eyes, mouth, or nose (especially when you are around other people who are sick!)
  • After riding public transportation
  • Before preparing or eating food
  • After handling raw foods
  • Wash your hands whenever they are dirty or soiled
    • Alcohol-based hand sanitizers do not work well if there is visible dirt or grime on the hands (think dirt + water = mud)

What about Hand Sanitizer?

  • Make sure to look for alcohol-based hand sanitizers with alcohol concentrations of 60% or greater -- anything less won't do a good job of killing the germs on your hands that could make you sick. ButtonOrange


Hand Sanitizer
When should I use alcohol-based hand sanitizer?

  • Before and after touching someone who has a cold or the flu

  • Before and after preparing food

  • After changing a diaper

  • After using the bathroom

  • After sneezing, coughing, or otherwise getting germs on your hands

  • After handling anything that has been touched by someone with a cold or the flu (for example, toys or facial tissue)

What's the proper use of alcohol-based hand sanitizer?

  • Dispense the hand sanitizer into your palm and rub it in well

  • Put enough product on your hands to cover both of them entirely; this should equal a quarter-size amount or more!

  • Be sure to rub the hand sanitizer between your fingers, under your fingernails, and over all the surfaces of your hands

  • Keep rubbing until your hands are dry; this should take about 15 seconds -- the same as washing your hands

  • Hand sanitizers usually do not dry out your hands like soap and water can, but even so there are some new kinds out to keep your hands moist in the dry, cold winter air. Check out Purell's instant hand sanitizer in "hand lotion formula" -- made with lotion!

  • Can't stand the smell of alcohol-based hand sanitizers? There are many types of hand sanitizers out there from ones with aloe or citrus scents to great smelling kinds sold at places like Target or other stores and pharmacies. Keep your eyes open for all the different types next time you're at your local drug store.

  ButtonOrange What about antimicrobial resistance?

 

For more information:

  ButtonOrange     Do You Have Appropriate Hand Washing Technique?
 
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