The winter months keep us inside more which makes it easier for diseases to be spread. TriCounty Health wants to remind people that hand washing is one of the most important things we can do to prevent illness. The CDC tells us that we should wash our hands in the following situations; before, during, and after preparing food, before eating food, before and after caring for someone who is sick, before and after treating a cut or wound, after using the toilet, after changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet, after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing, after touching an animal, animal feed, or animal waste, after handling pet food or pet treats and after touching garbage. Wash hand by scrubbing wet hands with soap in clean running water. If soap and water are not available then the use of an alcohol based hand sanitizer is just as effective (make sure the alcohol content is at least 60%). Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds, the friction of this action is what has been proven to clean our hands. To make sure that you go for 20 seconds hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice. Rinse your hands thoroughly. Lastly dry your hands with a clean towel or air dry.
