Hand Washing

Hand washing, when done correctly, is the single most effective way to prevent the spread of communicable diseases.

Good hand washing technique is easy to learn and can significantly reduce the spread of infectious diseases. Here are some tips:

• Remove all rings and wet your hands with warm running water.
• Put a small amount of liquid soap in the palm of one hand. Bar soaps are not as hygienic as liquid soaps because they stay moist and attract germs. If a bar soap is the only option it should be stored on a rack so that the bar doesn't sit in water. Be sure it does not have any cracks.
• Rub your hands together for 20 seconds so you produce lather. That’s as long as it takes to sing Happy Birthday twice or Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. Make sure you scrub between your fingers, under your fingernails and the backs of your hands.
• Rinse your hands well with clean running water for at least 10 seconds. Try not to handle the faucets once your hands are clean. Use a paper towel to turn off the water.
• Dry your hands with a single use paper towel. If you use a hand towel be sure to change it daily. During cold and flu season you may want to give each family member his or her own hand towel.
• Use hand lotion to put moisture back into your skin if your hands are dry.
• Model good handwashing technique to your children. Have them sing a song like Twinkle Twinkle Little Star while rubbing their hands together to teach them the amount of time it takes to clean their hands properly.

For more information on how to wash your hands, see the www.fightflu.ca website or the Get the dirt on clean hands! section of the Public Health Agency of Canada website.

Or watch this brief slide show from WorkSafe BC and share it with your friends and family members.

View the Hand Washing Poster in PDF format.