Health Tips - Wash Your Hands

Hand washing is an easy way to prevent infection. It limits the transfer of bacteria, viruses and other microbes. As you touch people, surfaces and objects throughout the day, you accumulate germs on your hands. In turn, you can infect yourself with these germs by touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Clean hands can stop germs from spreading from one person to another and throughout an entire community.

Note that removal of germs from the skin requires the use of water and soap or detergent. Be sure to scrub the back of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails for at least 20 seconds.
Rinse your hands under running water and then dry your hands using a clean paper towel or a hand drier. Alcohol based sanitizers with at least 60% alcohol can be used as an alternative in the absence of water and soap.

WHEN SHOULD YOU WASH YOUR HANDS?
- Before, during, and after preparing food.
Before and after eating food.
- Before and after caring for someone who is sick.
- Before and after treating a cut or wound.
- After using the toilet.
- After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet.
- After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
- After touching an animal, animal feed, or animal waste.
- After touching or disposal of garbage.
- After doing household chores