HowtoWashYourHands.docVIP

How to Wash Your Hands Practice good sanitation habits. If your hands are not clean and you touch your face or public surfaces, you may be infecting yourself and others by spreading germs and disease. Colds, flus, and infectious diarrhea are all known to be spread by hand-to-hand contact. In a recent survey, while 92% of adults in the U.S. claimed they regularly wash their hands after using the restroom, only 77% actually did. Washing your hands regularly can help keep you and those around you healthy by controlling the spread of germs (bacteria and viruses) as well as by removing plain, old dirt. Even if you already wash your hands, take the time to do it regularly and right. Heres how. Steps 1 Get your hands wet. Turn the tap on and evenly rinse your hands in warm water. Contrary to popular belief, hot water does not remove bacteria more effectively than warm water, and may even increase the irritant capacity of some soaps. 2 Use soap. Any type of soap will work, but if it helps you wash your hands more consistently to have soap that is a fun shape or color, or a pleasant fragrance, go for it. A soap does not have to be antibacterial to do a good job. Soap works by removing germs and soil rather than by killing germs. Scientists question whether antibacterial soaps are any better at preventing germs and disease than regular soaps, and there is some concern that widespread use of antibacterial soaps may, in fact, breed bacteria that are resistant to those antibacterial agents. Antibacterial soaps may also dry the skin more than ordinary soaps. 3 Work up a lather. Scrub on both sides of your hands, in between your fingers, and your wrists. Remember to wash around and under your fingernails. 4 Wash your hands for about 15-20 seconds. This is just about the time it takes to sing a chorus of Happy Birthday. Be sure and rub your hands vigorously, and dont rinse off the soap right away. Give it time to do its job and give yourself time to get soap everywher