Hand hygiene is a simple and fast intervention to protect our health—and we still miss it too often. This week, we recommit to the fundamentals that keep our patients, our colleagues, and our families safe. Washing your hands is easy, and it's one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of germs.
Studies have shown that handwashing can prevent diarrhea-related illnesses and respiratory infections, such as colds or the flu. Promoting handwashing can help our loved ones stay healthy and can reduce the number of people who get diarrhea by 23-40 percent and reduce respiratory illnesses by 16-21 percent.
Follow these five steps every time.
- Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap.
- Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
- Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the "Happy Birthday" song from beginning to end twice.
- Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.
- Dry your hands using a clean towel or air-dry them.
If soap and water aren't available, you can use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol.
The CDC has launched "Life is Better with Clean Hands," a national campaign encouraging adults to make clean hands a healthy habit at home and on the go.
For more information on Life is Better with Clean Hands, a campaign promotion toolkit, free posters, and other resources for promoting handwashing, visit www.cdc.gov/handwashing .
