Consider all the things you touch in a day — door handles, elevator buttons, money. Then consider all the other people who touched these objects before you and may have a contagious illness.
The flu and other viruses aren't just spread by coughing and sneezing. You can also pick them up when you touch something with the virus on it and then touch your mouth, eyes or nose.
When to Wash
That's why washing your hands is one key to preventing infection. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), washing your hands is the single most important way you can prevent the spread of germs.
Be sure to wash hands:
- Before you eat, and before and after you prepare food, care for someone who is sick or treat a cut
- After you use the toilet, help a child use the toilet, blow your nose, cough, sneeze, handle animal waste or touch garbage
How to Wash
Here's the formula if your hands are visibly dirty:
1: Wet your hands with warm water and add soap. You can use antibacterial soap, but studies have found regular soap works just as well.
2: Scrub for at least 20 seconds — as long as it takes you to sing the "Happy Birthday" song twice.
3: Rinse your hands with warm water and dry them with a clean towel or air dryer. In a public bathroom, turn off the faucet with a disposable towel.
If there's no visible dirt on your hands, you can clean them with soap and warm water, an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, or both. When using hand sanitizer:
- Pick a product that is 60 to 95 percent alcohol.
- Keep rubbing your hands together until the sanitizer dries.
Essential Protective Steps
Besides frequently washing your hands, take these preventive steps:
1: Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you sneeze or cough.
2: Try not to touch your eyes, nose and mouth with your hands.
3: Keep your distance from people who are sick.
4: Frequently clean the surfaces of your work area, including your telephone, keyboard, desktop and doorknob, with alcohol-based wipes.
Source: Good Neighbor Pharmacy Health Connection, September 2013
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