Culbertson Memorial Hospital issued the following announcement on Dec. 13.
Practicing hand hygiene is a simple yet effective way to prevent infections. Cleaning your hands can prevent the spread of germs, including those resistant to antibiotics, which are becoming difficult, if not impossible, to treat. Plus, there’s no better time to brush up on your handwashing skills because the week of December 1 – 7 is National Handwashing Awareness Week!
When should you clean your hands?
Good hand hygiene is the first line of defense against harmful bacteria or germs. So, establishing a good routine—for home and away—will give you the best possible chance of staying healthy this winter season. You should always wash your hands:
Before preparing or eating food.
Before touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.
Before and after changing wound dressings or bandages.
After using the restroom.
After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
After touching public surfaces such as doorknobs, remote control/phone in hotel rooms.
How should you clean your hands?
The best way to properly clean your hands is with soap and water. Here’s a quick step-by-step:
Wet your hands with warm water. Use liquid soap if possible.
Rub your hands together until the soap forms a lather and then rub all over the top of your hands, in between your fingers and the area around and under the fingernails. Scrub for at least 15 seconds! Imagine singing the “Happy Birthday” song twice!
Rinse your hands well under running water.
Dry your hands using a paper towel if possible. Then use your paper towel to turn off the faucet and to open the door if needed.
How can I quickly clean my hands if I don’t have access to soap and water?
With an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, follow these steps for maximizing cleanliness:
Put product on hands and rub hands together
Cover all surfaces until hands feel dry
What if I catch the cold or flu this winter?
Even the best hand-washers sometimes catch a virus or cold that may need the expertise of a medical professional to help heal. If you find that home remedies just aren’t working to help you get over a cold, you may need to make an appointment with your trusted Culbertson provider.
Original source can be found here.
Source: Culbertson Memorial Hospital
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