Hand washing
Using good hand washing techniques helps you stop the spread of germs and keeps you from getting sick.
Follow these simple hand washing steps:
- Wet your hands with warm water.
- Put soap on your hands; use enough to cover all the surfaces on your hands.
- Rub your hands together for about 15 seconds. Make sure to scrub your palms, between your fingers and thumbs and the backs of your hands and your fingernails.
- Use warm water to wash off all the soap from your hands.
- Dry your hands with a clean paper towel; use the same towel to turn off the faucet. If you use a cloth towel, replace it often to prevent the spread of germ
- Model your good hand washing technique to your children.
Hand sanitizers
Hand sanitizers are not as effective as washing your hands; however, using a hand sanitizer is a good option when you don't have soap and running water.
Coughing and sneezing manners
Diseases like influenza can spread quickly from person to person when people cough or sneeze. To help prevent the spread of germs when you cough and sneeze, here are two things that you can do:
- When you cough or sneeze, cover your mouth with a tissue. Then throw the tissue away and wash your hands.
- If you don't have a tissue, raise your arm up to your face and cough or sneeze into your sleeve.
Stay at home and avoid large crowds when sick
If you are sick, do not go to work or to school and avoid large crowds until your symptoms are gone.
Last updated: 01/11/2018
