
Hand Hygiene

Proper hand washing is an easy way to help keep from getting sick.
Why Wash?
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?
- Wet your hands with clean water.
- Apply soap.
- Rub your hands together vigorously and scrub all surfaces.
- Scrub for 15 seconds (try singing Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star).
- Rinse with clean water.
- Dry hands.
What if I Can't Wash?
If your hands are not visibly soiled, use an alcohol-based, waterless hand sanitizer.
- Apply a dime-sized amount of waterless hand sanitizer.
- Rub hands together covering all surfaces of hands and fingers.
- Rub until hands are dry (usually about 15 seconds).