Washing your hands regularly is one of the best ways to remove germs and avoid getting sick. With COVID, flu and RSV season in full swing, you can help prevent the spread of infections and illness at home, work and school by keeping your hands clean.

Wash Your Hands Correctly

Follow these guidelines when washing your hands:

• Use clean, running water. The water can be warm or cold; either works well.
• Wet your hands before applying soap.
• Rub your soapy hands together for at least 20 seconds. Wash all surfaces well. This includes your wrists, palms, backs of hands and between fingers.
• Clean under your fingernails and remove any dirt.
• Rinse your hands thoroughly to remove all soap.
• Dry your hands with an air dryer or a clean paper towel.
• Turn off the faucet with a paper towel.

If soap and water are not available, an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol can be used to clean your hands. When using this type of product:

• Put the sanitizer in the palm of one hand.
• Rub your hands together.
• Rub the sanitizer over all surfaces of your hands and fingers until they are dry. This takes about 20 seconds.

Wash Your Hands Often

Most adults and children do not wash their hands often enough. Keep in mind that bacteria and other germs can only be seen under a microscope, so they can be anywhere. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it is especially important to wash your hands:

• Before preparing food.
• Before meals.
• Before and after treating an open sore, cut or wound.
• After using the bathroom.
• After touching animals or animal waste.
• After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has gone to the bathroom.
• After blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing.
• After handling garbage.
• When hands are dirty.
• When someone around you is ill.

No one likes to be sick or to spread illness. Hand-washing can help prevent this from happening.