When, How Much, and How Long?

When, how much, and how long?

This Flu-U Feature is a quick reminder about the duration of time you should be following the recommended behaviors described on Flu-U.  Following these recommendations will help keep you, and others around you, healthy during this cold and flu season. Read below for detailed information on “when, how much, and how long” you should be practicing certain behaviors.

Hand Hygiene

Clean your hands with alcohol-based hand sanitizer or soap and water in the following situations:

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

Hand Washing Versus Hand Sanitizer

Hand Washing

• Wash your hands whenever they are dirty or soiled; hand sanitizer does not work well when there is visible dirt or substances on the hands.

• Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 15 seconds.  This is approximately equal to the amount of time it takes to sing the “Happy Birthday” song twice.

• Make sure to take the time to scrub your hands well and get soap and water under your fingernails, between your fingers, on the front and back of your hands, around your thumbs, and across your fingernails!

• Pat your hands dry with a paper towel and turn off the faucet with the paper towel so you do not re-expose your hands to more germs.

Hand Sanitizer   

• Dispense at least a quarter-size amount of hand sanitizer when you clean your hands with alcohol-based hand sanitizer. 

• It should take at least 15 seconds (and up to 30 seconds) for you to rub in the hand sanitizer until your hands are dry.

For More information:

• Click here to read more information on hand hygiene from the Centers for Disease Control

Cough Etiquette

Cover your coughs and sneezes all the time when you are around other people, especially when you are within three feet of other people.  Cover your coughs and sneezes with the sleeve of your arm, or with a tissue or handkerchief.  If you use a tissue or handkerchief, or even your hands, make sure to clean your hands with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer immediately afterward.

Wearing a mask

Wear a face mask to cover your respiratory secretions (e.g., droplets that are expelled from your mouth when you cough or sneeze) whenever you have a fever and a cough or a sore throat. Masks can become soggy after being worn for a while (this happens because of the moisture in your breathing).  For this reason, it is useful to change your mask at least once a day, or if it gets damp or uncomfortable.

• Wear a face mask whenever you have a fever and a cough or a sore throat and you are:

  • Riding public transportation

  • Working in a public service position (e.g., serving food) 

  • In a crowded lecture or classroom

  • In a household or venue where there is frequent face-to-face or close contact (within 6 feet) with other people