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Hand washing is the best way to stop the spread of influenza and other viruses. Influenza viruses can live on some surfaces for up to two days. Follow these steps for proper hand hygiene:
Hand Washing with Soap and Water
- Wet hands and wrists with warm water.
- Lather soap and scrub hands well for 20 seconds (or as long as it takes to sing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star).
- Scrub between and around fingers, nail beds, back of each hand, thumbs, and wrists.
- Rinse thoroughly under running water.
- Dry hands well on a clean towel or a disposable towel – you can also air dry.
- Turn off water using a paper towel, if possible.
- Open door with paper towel, if possible.
Using an Alcohol-based Hand Sanitizer
- Use only if hands are not visibly dirty
- Use on dry hands
- Use enough sanitizer to wet both hands thoroughly (loonie-sized amount)
- Rub in between and around fingers, back of each hand, thumbs, and nail beds
- Keep rubbing until hands are dry
When should I wash my hands?
| Wash before... |
Wash after... |
- Preparing and serving meals
- Eating and drinking
- Feeding an infant
- Tending to someone who is sick
- Treating a cut or wound
- Putting in or taking out contact lenses
- Any time hands are visibly dirty
- Putting on disposable gloves
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- Coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose
- Using the bathroom or helping in the bathroom
- Tending to someone who is sick
- Handling dirty laundry and garbage
- Playing or touching your pet After touching "high-traffic" items, like doorknobs or shopping carts
- Taking off disposable gloves
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For more information on proper hand washing, influenza or how to protect yourself from viruses, call the Huron County Health Unit at 519.482.3416 or toll free at 1.877.837.6143.
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