With Instructions for People in the Workforce
Medically reviewed by Kimberly Brown, MD, MPH, FAAEMWashing hands is essential to prevent the spreading of germs and diseases. Handwashing helps keep you and the people around you healthy. You should wash your hands when the risk of spreading germs is high, for example, before and after handling food, caring for someone who is sick, or after you use the restroom, sneeze, cough, or blow your nose.
Learn about handwashing, when it is needed as an employee, hand sanitizer, and more.
The six essential elements to washing hands are:
How Long to Wash Hands?
Wash your hands for 20 seconds to remove germs and dirt. It may be helpful to sing "Happy Birthday" two times or hum or sing a different song at least 20 seconds long.
Turn off the water while lathering and scrubbing to prevent water waste. Use your elbow or a paper towel to turn the water off after rinsing to avoid germs on your clean hands.
While washing hands throughout the day is important to avoid spreading germs, certain times are a priority, even if your hands don't look dirty.
The most important times to wash hands are:
Nearly 50 million Americans experience food poisoning yearly, which can be prevented with proper handwashing. Washing your hands helps to protect you and the people around you.
People who work in certain industries, such as healthcare and food service, must wash their hands regularly to ensure their safety and that of the people they meet. Sometimes, employees are required to wear gloves. Hand washing is necessary before donning gloves.
Healthcare workers and caregivers should wash their hands at the following times:
Food service workers should wash their hands at the following times:
Hand sanitizer does not replace washing hands with soap and water. Sanitizer use has been found ineffective in cleaning hands that are soiled, greasy, or have a high load of germs.
When choosing a hand sanitizer, it is best to get a product with 60% or more alcohol since anything less doesn't kill germs effectively. Avoid hand sanitizers and soaps with antibacterial ingredients since they are no more effective and can lead to antibiotic resistance.
Steer Clear of Antibiotic Soaps and Sanitizers
Antibacterial soaps and hand sanitizers can lead to antibiotic resistance, which happens when germs get used to the drugs or substances designed to kill them and learn to survive. This is a concern because it makes handwashing with antibacterial soaps or sanitizers less effective and can increase the spread of germs and disease.
Using the correct type of hand sanitizer, the right amount, and the proper application technique can help remove and kill germs. Opt for an alcohol-based hand sanitizer when soap and running water are not an option.
To use a hand sanitizer effectively, follow these steps:
Regular and proper handwashing keeps you and the people around you safe and healthy. Correct hand washing includes wetting your hands with clean, running water, lathering with soap, scrubbing for at least 20 seconds, paying attention to details, rinsing the soap with clean, running water, and thoroughly drying the hands.
Each step is essential to get rid of germs. While hand sanitizer does not replace handwashing, a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol can be used when handwashing is not an option.
2023-06-05T14:11:34Z dg43tfdfdgfd