Hand washing 101

Apr. 28, 2020 — Studies show that 95% of people don’t wash their hands correctly. Now more than ever it’s important to practice effective hand hygiene. Below are six simple steps for washing your hands that will help keep you and others safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

6 simple steps for effective hand washing

Use warm water and lather your hands with soap for at least 20 seconds. That’s as long as it takes to hum the “Happy Birthday” song twice.

Wash both the top and bottom of your hands.
 

Scrub between your fingers.
 

Wash from under your fingernails to your wrists.
 

Rinse by placing hands pointing downward under running water.
 

Dry with a clean towel or air dry.

4 facts about hand sanitizers

Hand sanitizers offer a quick way to clean your hands when soap and water aren’t available. Here’s some important facts to keep in mind.

Hand sanitizers can help reduce germs, but not eliminate them.

They are not as effective as soap and water.

They should contain at least 60% alcohol.

They should be purchased, not homemade, to ensure the correct mixture.

Remember, hand washing prevents the spread of germs. If you want to avoid viruses, the best preventive action you can take is washing your hands frequently, and avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Download our free hand washing 101 infographic.

Want to share other important preventive health care information with your employees? Take a look at our articles on autism awareness, skin cancer prevention and men’s health.