Proper hand washing is an easy way to help keep from getting sick.

Stop Germs in Their Tracks

When common illnesses like the cold and flu spread, it’s easy to think there’s little we can do to stop it. But washing your hands consistently is a reliable way to keep from spreading germs while reducing your chances of getting sick.

Want to know more? Here are a few hand-washing tips.

Why it Matters.

Germs hide everywhere: door handles, faucet handles, remote controls and any surface people touch.

"In the United States, hospital patients get nearly two million infections each year. That's about one infection per 20 patients!"(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Foundation). 

When to Wash.

• Before and after eating
• Before giving medications
• After using the toilet or changing diapers
• After touching sores, cuts or infected areas
• After playing with any animals
• After playing/working outside
• After coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose

How to Wash.

1. Wet your hands with clean water.
2. Apply soap.
3. Rub your hands together vigorously and scrub all surfaces.
4. Scrub for 15 seconds (try singing “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”).
5. Rinse with clean water.
6. Dry hands.

What if I Can't Wash?

If your hands are not visibly soiled, use an alcohol-based, waterless hand sanitizer. 

1. Apply a dime-sized amount of waterless hand sanitizer. 
2. Rub hands together covering all surfaces of hands and fingers. 

Rub until hands are dry (usually about 15 seconds).