Handwashing: Your Essential Guide to Stopping Germs and Illness

By Nurse Kim and Thomas H.

Handwashing: Essential Protection Against the Spread of Germs, Illness

Keeping our hands clean is one of the most important things we can do to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others. [SOURCE: https://www.cdc.gov/clean-hands/about/index.html ]

This is because many diseases and conditions can be spread by dirty hands. [SOURCE: https://www.media.pa.gov/Pages/Health-Details.aspx?newsid=691] This includes common illnesses, like colds, and more serious diseases, like meningitis. The CDC estimates that handwashing can prevent about 20 percent of respiratory infections and 30 percent of diarrhea-related sicknesses. [SOURCE: https://www.media.pa.gov/pages/health-details.aspx?newsid=1174 ]

When to Wash Your Hands

Knowing when to wash your hands is an important first step. Click HERE for a caregiver video tip.

“Germs like salmonella, E.coli, and norovirus can get on our hands after using the bathroom, changing a diaper, or touching raw meat,” says the Pennsylvania Dept. of Health. If we don’t wash off these germs, we can pass them on to other people, who can become ill. [SOURCE: https://www.media.pa.gov/Pages/Health-Details.aspx?newsid=691]

Washing your hands throughout the day and before and after completing certain tasks will give you and those around you the best protection against germs and illness.

Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly…:

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

After handling pet food or pet treats

After touching garbage

[SOURCE: https://www.cdc.gov/clean-hands/about/index.html ]

Washing your hands the right way:

To get the maximum benefit from handwashing it’s very important to wash your hands the right way. Follow these steps from the CDC:

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. Evidence shows that washing your hands for this long gets rid of more germs.
Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.
Dry your hands as thoroughly as possible.

If soap and water aren’t available, you can wash your hands with hand sanitizer. Chose a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. As with soap and water, make sure to get the back of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails. Rub your hands together until they are completely dry.

[SOURCE: https://www.cdc.gov/clean-hands/about/index.html]

JEVS Care at Home Can Help

Our caregivers empower seniors and adults with disabilities to live fully and independently at home by assisting with personal care and everyday tasks. For more information, contact us today [LINK to https://www.jevshumanservices.org/jevs-care-at-home-form/ ]