Why
is handwashing so important? People often touch their eyes, nose and mouth
without realizing it, allowing germs to enter their bodies. Germs from unwashed
hands can get into food and drinks when people prepare or consume them, and they
can also be transferred to other objects (such as doorknobs, tables or toys).
By washing your hands properly, at key times
throughout the day, you can stop the spread of germs, keeping yourself and your
family healthy this winter.
Tips
to remember:
1. Soap is a must.
Washing your hands with soap is more effective than using water alone. Surfactants,
the compounds in soap, help to “lift off” or remove soil and microbes (germs)
from your skin. People also tend to scrub their hands more thoroughly when
using soap, which helps to remove more germs.
2.
Hot
or cold? It doesn’t matter. The temperature of the
water doesn’t appear to affect microbe (germ) removal. Germs are essentially
being “lifted off” your hands with soap and manual labor (scrubbing), and
rinsed down the drain by running water.
3.
Don’t
sell yourself short. Scrub your hands for at least 20
seconds. Need a timer? Hum the “Happy Birthday” song twice from beginning to
end.
4. Be thorough.
Clean all areas of your hands, including often missed spots like the backs of
your hands, in between your fingers, and under your nails.
5. Hand sanitizer is an option. If
you don’t have access to soap and water, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer
that contains at least 60% alcohol. Use enough sanitizer to cover all surfaces
of your hands, and don’t rinse or wipe it off before it’s dry. Hand sanitizer
may not kill all germs, especially if your hands are visibly dirty or greasy.
To read more visit http://www.clintonhealth.org/handwashing.
