Hand Washing

PROPER HAND WASHING IS THE SINGLE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO PREVENT ILLNESS AND DISEASES!
PUBLIC HEALTH - Always working for a safer and healthier community

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Hand Washing

Want to fight germs simply and effectively? Hand washing is the single most important way to prevent the spread of infection. It is also important to realize that the best cleansing agent is plain old soap and water. (62% Ethyl alcohol-gel or foam preparations are also effective)

What is Hand Washing?

Hand washing is a vigorous, brief rubbing together of all surfaces of lathered hands for at least 20 seconds, followed by rinsing under a stream of water. It is a process for the removal of soil and transient microorganisms from the hands. It is important to dry hands completely, otherwise, leaving soap residue on the skin and incomplete drying can contribute to chapped hands and/or dermatitis.

When to Wash Hands

Obviously, common sense tells us to wash our hands when they are visibly soiled, but we should also wash our hands:

After touching bare human body parts other than clean hands and clean, exposed portions of the arms
After using the restroom
After caring for or handling pets especially reptiles and exotic animals
After coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose
After using tobacco, eating or drinking
After handling soiled equipment or utensils or garbage
After handling uncooked foods, particularly raw meat, poultry or fish
Before and after treating a cut or wound, or someone who is sick
After engaging in any activity that contaminates the hands

HOW TO WASH YOUR HANDS

Emphasize that how you wash your hands is just as important as when you wash them, especially when it comes to eliminating germs. Just rinsing hands quickly is not enough.

Follow these steps when you wash your hands:

1.   Remove your rings so that germs can get washed away.

2.   Remember that the water faucet is always considered contaminated so turn on the faucet and prepare the paper towel prior to wetting your hands.

3.   Using warm running water wet hands thoroughly.

4.   Add soap and rub your hands together to make a soapy lather. Wash vigorously for at least 20 seconds. Wash the front and back of your hands, between your fingers and under your nails. Rubbing hands together loosens germs and dirt and allows them to be washed away. Germs hide in between fingers so don't overlook that area! Wash your wrists also. Do this away from running water so that you don't wash the bubbles away.

Note:
Unsure about how to ensure scrubbing for 20 seconds? Slowly sing/hum “Happy Birthday” twice while washing your hands.

5.   Rinse your hands well under warm running water. Let the water run back into the sink, not down your elbows.

6.   Dry your hands thoroughly with a clean paper towel (at home, use your own personal towel).

7.   Turn off water with the used paper towel(s) before throwing towel(s) in the wastebasket.

8.   Applying hand lotion after washing will help prevent dry skin, leaving fewer places for germs to hide.

9.   Wash your hands as often as necessary

Remember — Washing your hands is one of the most important things you can do to help stop the spread of illness. (50%+ reduction in the spread of disease!) Help yourself stay healthy by washing your hands. (see study on effectiveness of handwashing)