Wash your hands, please. How often did we hear these words as children? How often do we still heed them? Washing one's hands after an activity such as playing with the family pet, using the rest room, cleaning, is very important before food preparation or handling clean kitchen utensils.
Our hands can be the carriers of many different bacteria, viruses and parasites which can cause illness to ourselves and to others. If we all observe the simple rule of washing our hands after any activity and before we go to prepare food, treat a wound, or touch another person, we could eliminate many of the numerous types of illnesses we see every day from the common cold to a foodborne illness. The following summarizes when to wash hands:
When washing hands it is important to remember the following simple steps:
| Use warm running water and soap. |  |
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Lather up for at least 20 seconds. (A neat trick is to scrub as long as it takes you to sing the Happy Birthday song!) Rub lather all over hands, between fingers, under nails and exposed areas of arms. |
| Rinse thoroughly and dry well.
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We encourage everyone to use proper hand washing to help to protect yourself, your loved ones and those you touch from harmful germs and bacteria. Do not use "hand sanitizers" to replace hand washing.
If you would like more information on the subject of hand washing, please feel free to contact the staff of the Division of Environmental Health at 906-475-4195.
And for kids.... Henry the Hand!