Hot Topic: Wash Away Germs!
Want to stay healthy? Then handwashing is just what the doctor ordered.
This is National Handwashing Awareness Week, a perfect time to highlight the benefits of handwashing. Washing your hands is easy to do, and it's one of the best ways to stop the spread of germs and prevent illness.
Here are the Centers for Disease Control's recommendations for proper handwashing or use of hand sanitizers:
When washing hands with soap and water:
• Wet your hands with clean running water and apply soap. Use warm water if it is available.
• Rub hands together to make a lather and scrub all surfaces.
• Continue rubbing hands for 15-20 seconds. Need a timer? Imagine singing "Happy Birthday" twice through to a friend.
• Rinse hands well under running water.
• Dry your hands using a paper towel or air dryer. If possible, use your paper towel to turn off the faucet.
If soap and clean water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub to clean your hands. Alcohol-based hand rubs significantly reduce the number of germs on skin and are fast acting.
When using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer:
• Apply product to the palm of one hand.
• Rub hands together.
• Rub the product over all surfaces of hands and fingers until hands are dry.
Learn more about why handwashing is a key to good health by visiting the CDC website.
WWW Address: http://www.gachd.org/hot-topic/wash_away_germs.php