Wash Hands Thoroughly

One of the most important things you can do to avoid infection, and to help reduce the incidence of antibiotic resistant germs is proper hand washing. But just what do the instructions mean by "proper" hand washing?

Rubbing your hands together with soap and water reduces the spread of germs from one person to the next. Just rinsing under running water isn't enough. According to one nurse, you should wash your hands for as long as it takes you to sing Yankee Doodle to yourself. Try it. You'll be amazed at how long it takes!

To "properly wash":

  • use soap and warm, running water
  • wash all surfaces thoroughly, including wrists, palms, backs of hands, fingers and under fingernails
  • rub hands together for at least 10-15 seconds (sing Yankee Doodle for best results!)
  • when drying use a clean or disposable towel if possible and pat your skin rather than rubbing in order to avoid chapping and cracking
  • apply hand lotion after washing to soothe skin and help prevent drying.

Germs are so small you can't see them. A few of them can cause illnesses like diarrhea and colds as well as more serious, life threatening diseases. Hand washing greatly reduces the spread of germs. Disease causing germs can enter your body when your unwashed hands touch your nose, mouth, and open wounds.

According to recent surveys, you may not wash your hands as often as you think. While 945 of Americans report that they wash their hands after going to the bathroom, observations in public restrooms show that only 68% of adults do so.

When should you wash?

Before you....

  • prepare or eat food
  • treat a cut or wound or tend to someone who is sick
  • insert or remove contact lenses

After you...

  • use the bathroom
  • handle uncooked foods, particularly raw meat, poultry or fish
  • change a diaper
  • blow your nose, cough, or sneeze
  • play with or touch a pet, especially reptiles and exotic animals
  • handle garbage
  • tend to someone who is sick injured.