Hand Hygiene

girl washing her hands

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).