Foodborne related illnesses are responsible for an estimated 48 million illness each year. The most effective way to prevent bacterial and viral contaminations is good personal hygiene, which includes proper handwashing. Most of us know germs can spread through the air, however did you know the most common way germs spread is through hand contact?
Proper handwashing is a simple and effective method of preventing the spread of germs to yourself and others, but the key word here is “proper” handwashing. So how do you wash your hands?
Use clean, running water and soap to wash your hands.
By using soap, people tend to scrub their hands more thoroughly and soap is more effective at cleaning your skin by helping to lift soil and microbes from the skin.
Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap.
The friction from scrubbing will help to remove dirt, grease, and microbes from the skin. Lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails, thumbs and any deep crevasses, dry-cracked skin, and cuts and nicks.
Wash your hands for 20 seconds.
Hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end, twice to remove germs.
Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.
This allows germs to be flushed down the drain.
Dry your hands using a clean towel (ideally a single use towel) or air dry them.
Drying your hands is important, because germs can be transferred more easily to and from wet hands.
Intentional handwashing cuts down on germs and illness.
- 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
- After touching garbage
Source: University of Illinois Extension
