Handwashing

How to wash your hands.

Think it is simply running water and using a bit of soap? Well it is not that simple.

Steps to good Handwashing:

	Have soap and dry paper towels at the sink.
	Run warm not hot water over your hands.
	Apply soap, liquid is the best but bar will also work. (antibacterial soaps will be discussed later)
	Rub all surfaces of your hands take care to get between fingers and under nails, an orange stick or a nail brush works well. If none are available your own nails will do or run your fingernails across the palms of your hands.
	Wash for 3 minutes. (I say 3 minutes because next to no one can actually time 3 minutes in their head and shorten the time considerable) Just make sure all surface areas have been vigirously scrubbed.
	Rinse hands in warm water taking care to remove all soap.
	Do not jump to turn off the water. First dry your hands with some of the papertowels.
	Then shut off the water with a fresh paper towel.

Points to ponder:

It is mostly the friction of your hands rubbing together that removes the germs.

Water should be comfrotably warm not scalding hot. Water hot enough to kill germs will cause second and possiably third degree burns.

Think of the faucet as always dirty and don't touch it with your clean hand.

HANDWASHING IS THE SINGLE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF GERMS.

Sources:

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