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).