National Handwashing Awareness Week 2014 (December 1st–7th)

Handwashing is one of the easiest tasks we do on a day to day basis.

It’s also the easiest and most effective way to prevent infectious diseases, such as colds and the flu, which we all know that the season is upon us!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_Handwashing_Day

So the questions are:

When should you wash your hands?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, you should wash your hands:

• Before, during, and after preparing food
• Before eating food
• Before and after caring for someone who is sick
• Before and after treating a cut or wound
• After using the toilet
• After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet
• After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
• After touching an animal, animal feed, or animal waste
• After touching garbage

What is the right way to wash your hands?

Again, according to the CDC, the right steps of handwashing includes:

• Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap.
• Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Be sure to lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
• Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice.
• Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.
• Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dryer.

For more info on these check out: http://www.cdc.gov/features/handwashing/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/11/proper-hand-washing-clean-_n_3417401.html

The World Health Organization states that “simple hand-washing could save up to 1 million lives each year” around the globe.

Do your part and spread awareness instead of germs!

 

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