Whether you feel sick or not, hand-washing is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of major diseases like the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). COVID-19 is found in bodily fluids like spit and mucus, and typically spread through coughing, sneezing, and physical contact. It can linger on surfaces for multiple days, and can be spread from you to others even if you don't feel any symptoms.
That's why hand-washing is vital; it helps protect you from getting infected and reduces the chances that you will infect others. It's a one-two punch, the first line of defense in a major pandemic.
When to wash your hands
Always wash your hands before:
- Caring for sick individuals, seniors, and children
- Preparing or eating food
- Meeting people in a social setting
- Treating a cut or wound
Always wash your hands after:
- Blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
- Caring for sick individuals, seniors, and children
- Taking public transit
- Changing diapers or cleaning up a child after toilet use
- Preparing or eating food
- Handling any animals, food, or waste
- Treating a cut or wound
- Using the washroom
All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2024. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/healthfeature/gethealthfeature/Hand-Hygiene-How-to-Protecting-Yourself-and-Others-from-COVID-19
- Wet your hands under a running tap with warm or cold water (it doesn't matter which)
- Rub and lather soap over your palms, between your fingers, over the backs of your hands, and under your fingernails
- Continue to rub and lather soap over all areas of your hands for 20 seconds
- Rinse your hands thoroughly under the tap
- Dry your hands with a clean hand towel, paper towel, or air drier
All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2024. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/healthfeature/gethealthfeature/Hand-Hygiene-How-to-Protecting-Yourself-and-Others-from-COVID-19
Hand sanitizer is a convenient alternative to hand-washing, but doesn't provide the same level of protection as simple soap and water. Only alcohol-based hand sanitizers that contain at least 60% alcohol are effective. Products labeled as "antibacterial" have not been shown to work any better against the spread of disease than normal soap and water. Hand sanitizers can reduce the number of germs but it does not get rid of all types and may not remove chemicals. Hand sanitizer is a good alternative when you are on the go and don't have access to soap and water. However, hand-washing is still your best everyday bet for preventing the spread of disease.
Follow these steps to ensure you are using hand sanitizer correctly:
- Apply sanitizer to the palm of your hand. Refer to the product label for the appropriate amount per cleaning.
- Rub your hands together to cover all areas of your hands and fingers until your hands dry naturally.
We're all in this together
It's important to keep in mind how small, individual actions can have a big impact. Hand-washing is easy, takes 20 seconds, and will do more to protect yourself and your loved ones than anything else. Adopting these hand hygiene tips as part of your regular routine can help everyone stay safe and healthy.
All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2024. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/healthfeature/gethealthfeature/Hand-Hygiene-How-to-Protecting-Yourself-and-Others-from-COVID-19
