Lately, we are all hearing about the importance of hand washing and for good reason. Hand washing is one of the best ways to remove germs and prevent the spread to others, and it just takes 5 simple steps!
- Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold). To save water, turn the tap off, and apply soap.
- Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Don’t forget the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
- Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. For timing, you can hum or sing the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice; practice your ABC’s; or simply count to 20.
- Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.
- Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them. If you are using a paper towel, use it to turn off the water and then throw it away.
What do you do when you don’t have soap and water? Alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol is also an option if soap and water is not available. You can tell if the sanitizer contains at least 60% alcohol by looking at the label. Keep in mind, sanitizer reduces the number of germs but may not get rid of all types of germs; and it does not remove dirt or grime. To use hand sanitizer, apply the gel using the correct amount on the label; rub your hands together, getting all surfaces and fingers, until your hands are dry. This should take around 20 seconds.
Watch this video to learn how to properly scrub your hands with soap: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEzJ_QKjT14
For more information on hand washing visit https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/when-how-handwashing.html
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