Hand Washing: Your Best Defense Against Germs
Germs spread easily from hands to surfaces and other people. Washing your hands correctly can prevent infections like colds, flu, and stomach illnesses.
When to Wash Your Hands:
🧼 Before eating or preparing food
🧼 After using the bathroom
🧼 After coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose
🧼 After being in public places or touching shared surfaces
🧼 After caring for someone who is sick
How to Wash Your Hands Properly:
- Wet your hands with clean, running water.
- Lather with soap, scrubbing all areas (palms, backs of hands, between fingers, under nails).
- Scrub for at least 20 seconds (sing “Happy Birthday” twice!).
- Rinse under clean running water.
- Dry using a clean towel or air dry.
No Soap? Use Hand Sanitizer!
🖐 Use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol if soap and water aren’t available.
🖐 Rub hands together until dried do not wipe off before it dries completely.
Stay Healthy, Protect Others
These simple steps help prevent illness and protect your family, coworkers, and community. Let’s work together to stop the spread of germs!
Helpful Resources
- Proper Handwashing and Hand Sanitizer Use Poster
- Preventing Illness in a Shelter Poster
- Flu Prevention Poster
- A quick tip to make sure your kids are washing long enough – teach them to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ while they scrub! It’s an easy way to make 15 second pass.
- Learn more about handwashing by visiting the CDC’s website!