Wash Your Hands!
Shopping carts, public bathrooms, sponges, raw meat the worst germ o
Handwashing is essential to help avoid colds and flu and spreading other germs.
Of course you'll want to wash your hands if they are visibly dirty as well.The CDC (Centers for Disease Control) estimates that only 1 in 3 people wash their hands after using the bathroom.
A recent study in Korea found that shopping carts harbor the largest number of germs, even more than public bathroom door knobs and handles, but that's probably because the shopping cart handles have a much larger surface area for germs to colonize.
Effective handwashing takes only about 30 seconds to accomplish. The water should be comfortably warm. You need to:
- lather with soap
- rub your hands together to create friction and lots of lather (away from the stream of water)
- Scrub your fingers, palms, backs of your hands and wrists and under your fingernails. Keep scrubbing for 20-30 seconds.
When you have completed scrubbing, rinse from your wrist downwards. Dry your hands and then use the toweling to turn of the faucet. Use paper towels if possible. If in a public restroom, pull out a fresh paper towel to use to open the door when leaving.
When cooking, always wash your hands after handling raw meats. Don't open that spice jar with dirty hands!! Use tongs or a fork to turn meats when seasoning so you don't contaminate your hands or those spices. Wash all surfaces with hot soapy water. And wash your hands after you wash the surfaces. Also, if you use sponges for cleaning surfaces, use a clean sponge and change it frequently.
Don't touch your face or eyes with dirty hands. Wash your hands before going to bed, and the first thing when you get up.
Always wash your hands:
- upon arising in the morning
- before meals
- after visiting the bathroom
- after sneezing or coughing or using a tissue
- after contact with animals
- after contact with anyone who is ill or coughing or sneezing
- after contact with surfaces outside your home
