Chances are you have been washing your own hands for quite a while. All it takes is a little soap and some water, right? There is a bit more to hand washing. Find out how to wash your hands the right way and why it matters so much.
The best thing you can do to keep from getting sick and to stop the spread of germs is to wash your hands often. This washes away germs that you may have gotten from other people or from surfaces. One of the most common ways people catch colds and the flu is by rubbing their noses or eyes. Washing your hands often can lower the spread of these viruses.
You cannot tell if you have germs on your hands by looking at them. It is very important to wash your hands at these times:
To wash your hands the right way, follow these simple steps:
Note: Use alcohol-based hand rubs when you do not have soap. Squirt some into the palm of your hand and rub your hands all over until they are dry. If you can see dirt on your hands, it is best to wash them with soap and water.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
http://www.cdc.gov
United States Department of Health and Human Services
http://www.hhs.gov
Canadian National Occupation Health and Safety Resource
http://www.ccohs.ca/
Health Canada
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/index-eng.php
Guinan M, McGuckin M, Ali Y. The effect of a comprehensive handwashing program on absenteeism in elementary schools. Am J Infect Control. 2002 Jun;30(4):217-20.
Keeping your hands clean on a cruise. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at:
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Accessed January 29, 2021.
Wash your hands. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at:
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Accessed January 29, 2021.
The SNAP Toolkit. School Network for Absenteeism Prevention website. available at:
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Last reviewed January 2021 by EBSCO Medical Review Board
Last Updated: 1/29/2021