Handwashing
Keeping our hands clean is one of the most important steps we can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others. It's best to wash your hands with soap and clean running water for 20 seconds.
If soap and clean water are not available, use an alcohol-based product to clean your hands. Alcohol-based hand rubs are fast acting and significantly reduce the number of germs on skin.
Clean hands often
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds.
- Always wash immediately after removing gloves and after contact with a sick person.
- Hand sanitizer: If soap and water are not readily available and hands are not visibly dirty, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. However, if hands are visibly dirty, always wash hands with soap and water.
- Additional key times to clean hands include:
- After blowing one’s nose, coughing, or sneezing
- After using the restroom
- Before eating or preparing food
- After contact with animals or pets
- Before and after providing routine care for another person who needs assistance (e.g. a child)
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
With soap and water:
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