Cold and Flu Season Reminder

Hand washing: The simplest way to avoid infection (advice from the Mayo Clinic)

There's a procedure you and your children can do in about 15 seconds - one that requires no special equipment and minimal training. Yet it's powerful enough to get rid of even tough germs. The procedure is hand washing, and it calls only for soap, water - and a little patience.

Despite the demonstrated health benefits of hand washing, many people just don't do it enough. You can probably confirm this by simply observing at random how many people exit public restrooms without washing their hands.

Why is it important?

Germs accumulate on your hands as you perform daily activities. By not washing your hands you can acquire or pass on a host of ailments, from the common cold to more serious diseases like dysentery (an intestinal infection) or even hepatitis (inflammation of the liver).
Germs acquired through inadequate hand washing cause most cases of diarrhea and vomiting. Pneumonia and influenza, the sixth leading causes of death in the United States, can be acquired the same way.

What's proper hand washing?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers these instructions for proper hand washing:

• Use soap and running water.

• Rub your hands vigorously as you wash them.

• Wash all surfaces, including backs of hands, wrists, between fingers and under fingernails.

• Rinse well and leave the water running until after drying hands.

• Dry hands with a single-use towel.

• Turn off faucet using a paper towel.

When should you wash?

Although it's impossible to keep your bare hands germ-free, there are times when it's critical to wash your hands. 

Always wash:

• Before eating

• After using the bathroom

• After changing diapers - wash your child's hands too

• Before and after handling raw meat, poultry or fish

• After touching animals

• After handling money

• After blowing your nose

• After coughing or sneezing on your hands

• Before and after treating wounds or cuts

• Before and after touching a sick or injured person

• After handling garbage

If your hands get dry from all the washing, use a moisturizing lotion.

Go to http://www.mayohealth.org for more information.