Hand Washing: we all do it, sometimes. Did you know that hand washing has a very important role in your health? Sudsing up is an important step in protecting yourself from sickness. All it takes is touching a surface with cold or flu germs, then rubbing your eyes or nose, or putting something in our mouth with unwashed hands, and those germs can get the best of you.
Steps to washing your hands like a pro:
Wet your hands: It doesn’t matter if the water is hot or cold. Lather your hands with soap: Don’t forget that the soap needs to get between the fingers and the backs of your hands. Do you wear rings? Pay attention to these areas that hide germs and lather these, too.
Scrub: Too many people rush this step. You need to scrub for at least 20 seconds.Remember the happy birthday song? This is a good song to hum or sing to yourself twice to make sure you’ve scrubbed for long enough.
Rinse: Clean hands with running water.
Dry: Use a clean towel or air dry.
Since the weather is cold and the air is dry, many people worry about cracked skin with frequent hand washing. It’s still best to wash your hands! After washing, use a lotion or moisturizer to help reduce cracked skin. Waterless sanitizers only help with some germs and should not be a substitute for hand-washing, especially if your hands are visibly soiled.