is a lesson we all learned as children, but when
we're busy or in a hurry we tend to rush or forget
to do it. We think our hands are clean, but they
are not if we haven't done it right.
Just rinsing your hands isn't washing them, it's wetting
them. To get them clean you need to use soap.
A quick
rub...
even with soap, won't get
your hands clean, and the few seconds you save could
cost you days if you get sick later.
To
make sure your hands are really clean, soap up
your palms, between your fingers, the backs of
your hands and under your fingernails for at
least 20 seconds.
After rinsing...
dry your hands with a paper towel. Use the same
paper towel to turn off the water and open the
restroom door.
Many
outbreaks of food borne illness
are
traced to unwashed or poorly washed
hands.
Sneezing and coughing...
can spread cold germs
into the air, but most colds are caught and spread
through germs on people's hands.
The
germs that cause the flu, SARS, hepatitis A, and
many kinds of diarrhea can also be picked up and
spread by your hands.
If these germs are
on your hands, touching your mouth or nose to
eat, sneeze or cough can make you sick.
Touching a doorknob,
pressing an elevator button, pushing a
grocery
cart or shaking hands can spread germs to
others.
.
Always wash your hands...
BEFORE YOU...
touch or
serve food
eat or
drink
put in
or take out contact lenses
treat a
cut, scrape, burn or blister
take
care of someone who is sick
AFTER YOU...
go to
the bathroom
help
someone else use the bathroom
change a
diaper (don't forget to wash the baby's hands too!)
cough,
sneeze, blow your nose or wipe a child's nose
handle
uncooked food, especially raw meat, poultry, fish or
eggs
handle
garbage
touch an
animal - especially a reptile - or clean up animal
waste
take
care of someone who is sick or injured
use
public transportation
How to
Wash Your Hands Effectively click below to
find out how .
