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Healthy Handwashing
Handwashing is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of illness and disease. It is important that adults and children do it correctly. For a visual reminder of correct technique, post the handwashing poster by sinks.
The Best Way to Handwash
- Use warm running water that drains.
- Use soap. Liquid soap is best.
- Rub your hands together for at least 10 seconds
- Rub the front of your hands
- Rub the back of your hands
- Rub the wrists
- Rub between your fingers
- Rub under your fingernails
- Rinse well under running water with your fingertips pointed downward so the soil runs into the sink.
- Dry hands with a single use towel.
- Turn the water off with the towel – not with your clean hands.
- Dispose of the towel in a trash container that is LINED with a disposable plastic bag.
- Use hand lotion frequently to prevent chapping. Chapped hands spread infectious disease by holding germs in cracks in the skin.
- Avoid jewelry, long or nail polished fingernails – all hold germs that are hard to remove.
>>Download the Healthy Handwashing Poster
Special Advice for Babies
IF a baby is too heavy to hold for handwashing at the sink:
- Wipe the child’s hands with a damp single use towel moistened with a drop of soap
- Wipe the child’s hands with a single use towel wet with clean water
- Dry the child’s hands with a dry single use towel
- Never use the same tissue or towel for more than one child
Everyone should wash hands at the following times:
- Upon arrival for the day
- In a group care setting: when moving from one child care group to another
- Before and after:
*Eating, handling food, or feeding a child
*Giving medication
*Playing in water that is used by more than one person
- After:
*Diapering
*Using the toilet or helping a child use a toilet
*Handling body fluids (mucus, blood, vomit), from sneezing,
wiping and blowing noses, from mouths or from sores
*Handling uncooked food, especially raw meat and poultry
*Handling pets and other animals
*Playing in sandboxes
*Cleaning or handling the garbage
>>Download the When to Handwash Poster
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