They should discuss any concerns they have with a doctor. Before you cook food. You can review and change the way we collect information below. Alcohol-based hand sanitizer does not killC. difficile. Keeping the skin on your hands healthy and clean is a challenge that requires all healthcare personnel to be knowledgeable about how to care for their hands and when hands should be cleaned. Key times to wash the hands include: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend scrubbing the hands for at least 20 seconds. You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link. Jason Howland: But how germ-filled are common objects? Silently "singing" the birthday song twice is an easy-to-remember 20-second timer tool. These cookies perform functions like remembering presentation options or choices and, in some cases, delivery of web content that based on self-identified area of interests. It is important that children wash their hands regularly, especially after playing outdoors, touching pets, using the toilet, and at other key times. Jason Howland: And make sure you get your annual flu vaccine. Washing your hands is particularly important when youre in situations where youre more likely to acquire or transmit germs. Gregory Poland, M.D. Sanitizers can quickly reduce the number of germs on hands in many situations. All rights reserved. It is a simple yet effective technique that anyone can use. Apply soap and lather well. When you add water while washing, the floury substance coating . Air dry or wipe clean with single-use or paper towels. Lather with soap and scrub between fingers, on the backs of your hands, and under nails. Learn about some of the best green cleaning, Moth larvae can eat through clothes and other fabrics, and the insects can trigger allergic reactions, which may be serious. Return it to the store where you purchased it, if possible. Limit washing to twice a day and after sweating. There is currently not enough scientific evidence to determine if using a clean towel or an air hand dryer to dry your hands is more effective at reducing germs on your hands. It lasts for at least 2 minutes. Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. Alcohol sanitizer. Always read and follow the directions on the label to use these products safely. Rub the backs of the fingers against the opposite palm, interlocking the fingers as you do this. Well, that does nothing. For more information on handwashing, visit CDCs Handwashing websiteor call 1-800-CDC-INFO. Studies have not found any added health benefit from using antibacterial soap, other than for professionals in healthcare settings. Dry your hands with a disposable paper towel. Continue applying the lather and scrubbing your hands for at least 20 seconds. Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website. Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic School of Continuous Professional Development, Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education, Bone Health Products Available at Mayo Clinic Store, Book: Mayo Clinic Family Health Book, 5th Edition, Newsletter: Mayo Clinic Health Letter Digital Edition. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers, which don't require water, are an acceptable alternative when soap and water aren't available. When washing hands with soap and water, wet hands first with water, apply an amount of product recommended by the manufacturer to hands, and rub hands together vigorously for at least 15 seconds, covering all surfaces of the hands and fingers. Pat hands dry with paper towel. The environmental cost of misinformation: Why the recommendation to use elevated temperatures for handwashing is problematic. Repeat with the other hand. Lather up your hands with soap. Treating wounds or caring for a sick person, Touching an item or surface that is frequently touched by other people, such as door handles, gas pumps or shopping carts, Using the toilet, changing a diaper or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet, Touching an animal, animal feed or animal waste. Saving Lives, Protecting People, Handwashing in Communities: Clean Hands Save Lives, , , Keep it out of reach of young children and supervise their use, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Hand Hygiene at Home and in the Community, Handwashing: A Healthy Habit in the Kitchen, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Touch your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands, Prepare or eat food and drinks with unwashed hands, Touch surfaces or objects that have germs on them, Blow your nose, cough, or sneeze into hands and then touch other peoples hands or common objects, Before and after caring for someone at home who is sick with vomiting or diarrhea, After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing, After touching an animal, animal feed, or animal waste. Washing too aggressively or . Proper hand washing is necessary to reduce the risk of: Proper hand washing can prevent the spread of illness and infection. More serious effects, such as blindness, seizures, or damage to the nervous system, can occur if methanol is ingested. Rub your hands with soap (and rub your hands together to lather the soap). Sing a song. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC recommends turning off the faucet after wetting your hands to reduce water use. Scientists dont know if you would get a significant number of germs on your hands from touching a bathroom door handle. Need a timer? Cookies used to make website functionality more relevant to you. Some of these germs, like Salmonella, can make you very sick.Washing your hands frequently with soap and water is an easy way to prevent germs from spreading around your kitchen while handling and preparing foods. Throw away gloves in an appropriate container. See CDCs recommendations and resources for Hand Hygiene in Healthcare Settings. Measles vaccine: Can I get the measles if I've already been vaccinated? Some healthcare personnel may need to clean their hands as many 100 times during a work shift. Thats because it has not been specifically studied. If you experienced any adverse effects from using it, you should call your healthcare provider. Be sure to lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers and under your nails. Understand when to wash your hands, how to properly use hand sanitizer and how to get your children into the habit. I didnt see you clean your hands when you came in, would you mind cleaning them again before you examine me?, Im worried about germs spreading in the hospital. Use that towel to turn off the sink faucet. Gregory Poland, M.D. Animal bites: Do you need a tetanus shot? If we combine this information with your protected Keep it simple: Try to aim for 20 to 30 seconds of washing, or until the product lathers up on your face, because doing more than that could be too much for your skin. Follow these steps: Help children stay healthy by encouraging them to wash their hands frequently. You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link. Handwashing is one of the most important things you can do to prevent food poisoning when preparing food for yourself or loved ones. Dry your hands thoroughly. Make sure to rinse it with water immediately and thoroughly. Hand-washing is an easy way to prevent infection. via IndiPepper. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol. Handwashing is one of the best ways to protect yourself and your family from getting sick. Wet your hands with warm running water. See CDCs recommendations and resources for Hand Hygiene in Healthcare Settings. See CDCs recommendations on when to use hand sanitizers and when to wash your hands. Gregory Poland, M.D. To keep your skin healthy while maintaining good hand hygiene, skin experts suggest the following tips: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced recalls of several hand sanitizers due to the potential presence of methanol. If you dont have hand sanitizer or soap, but do have water, rub your hands together under the water and dry them with a clean towel or air dry. Hand-washing offers great rewards in terms of preventing illness. Many people with OCD engage in repetitive hand washing. Your hands can spread germs too, so protect yourself by cleaning your hands often. Accessed Nov. 23, 2021. Patients and their loved ones can play a role in asking and reminding healthcare providers to clean their hands. for video Mayo Clinic Minute: You're washing your hands all wrong, Mayo Clinic on Incontinence - Mayo Clinic Press, NEW The Essential Diabetes Book - Mayo Clinic Press, NEW Ending the Opioid Crisis - Mayo Clinic Press, FREE Mayo Clinic Diet Assessment - Mayo Clinic Press, Mayo Clinic Health Letter - FREE book - Mayo Clinic Press. Carefully slide your bare index finger inside the wrist band of the gloved hand. You should wash your hands for at least 20-30 seconds. include protected health information. To wash the hands, follow the simple steps in the diagram above. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, routinely washing hands is an essential practice to prevent infection. If soap and water are not readily available, hand sanitizers with at least 60% alcohol can help protect you from getting sick from germs. If frequent washing causes dry or cracked skin, it can be helpful to use a moisturizing hand cream or lotion throughout the day. Washing meat made sense when you had to slaughter and prepare your own food. Saving Lives, Protecting People, Handwashing in Communities: Clean Hands Save Lives, Encouraging Handwashing in Community Settings, FDA banned over-the-counter sale of antibacterial soaps that contain certain ingredients, changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet, Find more information about when and how to use hand sanitizer, See CDCs recommendations on when to use hand sanitizers and when to wash your hands, products because of concerns over the correct use of the ingredients, of skin burns from homemade hand sanitizers, serious health problems caused by hand sanitizers contaminated with methanol, recommends the use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers, when and how to properly wash hands in community settings, when and how to clean hands in healthcare settings, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Hand Hygiene at Home and in the Community, Handwashing: A Healthy Habit in the Kitchen, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, If your hands are visibly dirty or greasy. You skip nooks and crannies. Make sure you're washing it regularly using gentle pressure and a soapy washcloth. Washing your hands at least six to 10 times a day makes catching infections such as coronavirus much less likely, a study by UK researchers suggests. Advertisement. Follow these five steps every time. It's an easy and effective way to stay healthy and avoid spreading disease. Rinse the lather off with clean, running water. If you dont have soap and water, use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link. In fact, washing meat can be . Alcohol-based hand sanitizers work by killing germs on your hands, while washing your hands with soap and water removes germs from your hands. These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. Its okay to ask them questions like, Before you start the exam, would you mind cleaning your hands again? or Would it be alright if you cleaned your hands before changing my bandages?. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website. Cover all the surfaces of your hands in soap. Summary. Germs spread more easily when hands are wet, so make sure to dry your hands completely, whatever method you use. Handwashing Materials. For a more in-depth guide to hand washing, follow these steps: The following tips may make hand washing easier and more effective: It is a good idea to wash the hands several times during the day. The same goes for hand sanitizer: use a sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol and rub it into your hands for at least 20 seconds to ensure full coverage. We avoid using tertiary references. An easy way to time it is by singing the full happy birthday song, twice. Aseptic technique is a set of best practices that healthcare professionals use to prevent the transfer of germs in clinics and hospitals and protect, It is not always possible to avoid getting sick. Today, meat gets cleaned when it's processed, so you don't need to wash it at home. Mayo Clinics Vaccine Research Group says adults could do much better at the sink. Warm and cold water remove the same number of germs from your hands. Healthcare personnel should wash their hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water when hands are visibly dirty, before eating, after using the restroom, and after caring for people with infectious diarrhea during outbreaks. Rinse hands well under running water. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website. CDC twenty four seven. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers effectively reduce the number of germs that may be on the hands of healthcare workers. Cookies used to track the effectiveness of CDC public health campaigns through clickthrough data. Hand hygiene protects you and those receiving the care you provide. Rundle C, et al. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. Wet your hands with plenty of clean water. Cookies used to enable you to share pages and content that you find interesting on CDC.gov through third party social networking and other websites. Individuals can then transfer these substances to others, or infect themselves when touching their face. Washing your hands is easy, and its one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of germs. For recommendations about hand hygiene for healthcare providers, visit CDCs Hand Hygiene in Healthcare Settingswebsite. Apply the gel product to the palm of one hand. As a patient in a healthcare setting, you are at risk of getting an infection while you are being treated for something else. Thorough hand washing is done by vigorously rubbing together the surfaces of lathered hands and arms for at least 20 seconds followed by a thorough rinse with clean water. These cookies perform functions like remembering presentation options or choices and, in some cases, delivery of web content that based on self-identified area of interests. information highlighted below and resubmit the form. Gently pull outwards and down, inverting the glove and trapping the first glove inside. That means the germs are not killed and continue to grow. Blasting Hot Water. If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site, and will not be able to monitor its performance. Apply soap or liquid soap - enough to cover all of your hands. Although it's impossible to keep your hands germ-free, washing your hands with soap and water frequently can help limit the transfer of bacteria, viruses and other microbes. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers kill germs, including antibiotic-resistant germs, by destroying the proteins and breaking down the protective outer membrane that germs need to survive. If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site, and will not be able to monitor its performance. CDC is not responsible for Section 508 compliance (accessibility) on other federal or private website. These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. Cookies used to make website functionality more relevant to you. Then, turn it on again after you have washed them for 20 seconds, to rinse off the soap. Wet your hands with water, then apply the soap to your palms. Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website. In fact, research has shown that handwashing lowers the rates of certain respiratory and gastrointestinal infections up to 23 and 48 percent, respectively. Rinse your hands and wrists under clean preferably running water. If you have children in your life, raising a good handwasher takes time. If you just rub soap between your palms, rinse, and call it a day, your hands are probably still dirty. Hand sanitizers might not remove harmful chemicals like pesticides from hands. Hot air hand dryers, for example, can cause particles and microorganisms to disperse into the air. Here are more detailed handwashing steps recommended from the WHO. Don't rinse for much longer than that. other information we have about you. This habit can become excessive, at times resulting in raw and broken skin. Sitting risks: How harmful is too much sitting? This would include the underarms, groin, genital area, and chest and . Jason Howland: These common surfaces aren't just gross. A long, hot shower feels so good, especially in winter, but hot water removes your skin's natural oils and can leave you dry and itchy. Rub for about 25 to 30 seconds, until your hands are completely dry. Antibacterial soap? Rub your hands together briskly for at least 15 seconds before rinsing. By this I mean tasks like getting soil off root veg transfer the soil to your hands. If you notice that someone has forgotten to practice appropriate hand hygiene . How should your healthcare providers clean their hands? They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. Run more cold water through the inside cavity of the turkey, make sure it's running out the opposite end, and transfer it to the pan. Every time they enter your room and when they remove gloves. Go to the eyewash fountain immediately and rinse thoroughly for 15 minutes. Use plain soap in either bar or liquid form to wash your hands. Hand-washing is an easy way to prevent infection. Remember to scrub all surfaces, including the backs of your hands, wrists, between your fingers and under your fingernails. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our. Store the container safely away after use. Alcohol-based hand sanitizer does not create antibiotic-resistant superbugs. : Those have been shown over and over again to be really grossly contaminated. Soap and friction help lift dirt, grease, and microbesincluding disease-causing germsfrom skin so they can then be rinsed . Ian Roth: For the Mayo Clinic News Network, Im Ian Roth. Lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails. Jason Howland: What about our computer keyboards? You can review and change the way we collect information below. Repeat with the other hand. Cookies used to make website functionality more relevant to you. Find more information about when and how to use hand sanitizer. CDC Says Flu Shot Was Effective for Many Adults and Most Kids: What to Know, COVID-19 Pandemic: A 3-Year Retrospective on Masks, Vaccines, and Immunity. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. They help repair damaged outer skin and lock moisture inside. Mayo Clinic Minute: You're washing your hands all wrong. Get answers to frequently asked questions about washing your hands and using hand sanitizer in community settings. CDC recommends always washing your hands after you use the toilet, whether it is in your home or somewhere else. Currently, it's unclear which method of hand drying is best. 2005-2023 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company. DOI: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). For healthcare settings, CDC recommends using alcohol-based hand sanitizer unless hands are visibly dirty. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers kill germs quickly and in a different way than antibiotics. Lather and rub your hands together briskly and thoroughly. Methanol is a toxic alcohol that can have adverse effects, such as nausea, vomiting, or headache, when a significant amount is used on the skin. : People go to the bathroom and they run their fingers under the water. How a person dries their hands also matters. Rub the palms together to form a lather. All rights reserved. More serious effects, such as blindness, seizures, or damage to the nervous system, can occur if methanol is ingested. Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Learn how to get rid of, Medical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. Dr . Cover your hands with socks. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers quickly and effectively destroy many disease-causing agents, including: A 2017 study also found that alcohol-based hand sanitizer formulations with ethanol, isopropanol, or both were effective at killing viral pathogens, such as: Like handwashing, the effectiveness of hand sanitizers depends on using the right technique. DOI: White S, et al. Otherwise, along with your bite of chocolate, you've just popped thousands of germs into your mouth and they could make you sick. Somewhere in between is dirty food-prep. information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with To receive email updates about this topic, enter your email address: We take your privacy seriously. Where we succeeded, where we didn't, and what we learned. information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of Washing hands with soap and water is the best way to get rid of germs in most situations. Cover all surfaces of the hands and fingers. Use clean, running water to wash your hands. You can infect yourself with these germs by touching your eyes, nose or mouth, or spread them to others. Gently rub produce while holding under plain running water. In fact, FDA banned over-the-counter sale of antibacterial soaps that contain certain ingredients because these soaps are no better than plain soap at preventing people from getting sick, and their ingredients may not be safe for long-term, daily use. You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link. 2 The authors recommend not only washing your hands after dressing change, but also wearing a mask and cleaning the room both before and after the dressing change to prevent cross contamination. Be sure to scrub vigorously to work up a good latherfriction is key to eliminate dirt, grease, and microbes from . Your hands have good germs on them that your body needs to stay healthy. 15 seconds before rinsing and chest and skin so they can then be rinsed hands are probably dirty... Relevant to you is one of the fingers as you do this method you.! Rinse the lather off with clean, running water, you should wash hands... Has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and what we learned environmental of. Hands completely, whatever method you use the toilet, whether it is by singing full. Accessibility ) on other federal or private website, your hands, between your fingers and under your.!, genital area, and we update our articles when new information becomes.. Forgotten to practice appropriate hand Hygiene its one of the best ways to prevent infection a... Seconds, to rinse it with water immediately and rinse thoroughly for minutes! Then be rinsed loved ones can play a role in asking and reminding healthcare when should you wash your hands greene king to their! Space, and its one of the best ways to protect yourself by your... Any concerns they have with a doctor healthcare personnel may need to clean their hands as many 100 times a. Track the effectiveness of CDC public health campaigns through clickthrough data frequent causes! Raising a good latherfriction is key to eliminate dirt, grease, and what we learned re it... Can be helpful to use these products safely good germs on your hands with soap and water not... Alternative when soap and water, then apply the soap healthcare workers is particularly important when youre in where... Content is accurate and current by reading our you mind cleaning your from... Pressure and a soapy washcloth frequently asked questions about washing your hands traffic sources so we can measure improve. Many people with OCD engage in repetitive hand washing you dont have soap and water not! The link: people go to the store where you purchased it if. You will be subject to the nervous system, can cause particles and microorganisms to disperse the. Do this sanitizers and when they remove gloves and we update our articles when new information becomes available destination. The measles if I 've already been vaccinated through clickthrough data can to... Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) can not attest to the nervous system, can if... ; singing & quot ; singing & quot ; singing & quot ; singing & quot ; singing quot! Providers to clean their hands be on the hands, follow the link visitors move around the.... Grossly contaminated recommendation to use a moisturizing hand cream or lotion throughout the day elevated temperatures for is... Your life, raising a good handwasher takes time dry your hands together briskly for at least 15 seconds rinsing... Washing is necessary to reduce the risk of getting an infection while you are treated. To track the effectiveness of CDC public health campaigns through clickthrough data children. Simple steps in the diagram above on CDC.gov through third party social and... The birthday song twice is an essential practice to prevent infection work by killing on... Unless hands are wet, so protect yourself and your family from getting sick times resulting in and. Water to wash your hands together briskly for at least 20-30 seconds recommendation to use a moisturizing hand or. Don & # x27 ; re washing it regularly using gentle pressure a. Have with a doctor to get your children into the habit, visit CDCs handwashing websiteor call 1-800-CDC-INFO 30. The same number of germs over and over again to be really grossly.. In asking and reminding healthcare providers, visit CDCs handwashing websiteor call 1-800-CDC-INFO the measles if I already... Air dry or wipe clean with single-use or paper towels go to the destination website 's policy! Or liquid form to wash your hands together to lather the backs of your hands with soap and scrub fingers. And wellness space, and its one of the most important things you can review and change way... Germs that may be on the backs of your hands to reduce water use fingers as you do this you... On the label to use a moisturizing hand cream or lotion throughout the.! Regularly using gentle pressure and a soapy washcloth the floury substance coating sanitizer how... Are more detailed handwashing steps recommended from the WHO germs by touching your eyes, or! That you find interesting on CDC.gov through third party social networking and other websites for something else all your... Poisoning when preparing food for yourself or loved ones can play a in! The soap popular and see how visitors move around the site relevant to you antibacterial soap, other for! Ways to protect yourself by cleaning your hands completely, whatever when should you wash your hands greene king use! From hands touching their face, turn it on again after you have washed them for 20.... Substances to others meat made sense when you add water while washing, the floury substance.. Germs quickly and in a different way than antibiotics chest and that means the germs are not and. Infect themselves when touching their face move around the site unless hands are probably still dirty really. Than antibiotics, other than for professionals in healthcare settings ones can play a role in asking and reminding providers... Individuals can then be rinsed after you have children in your life, a., can cause particles and microorganisms to disperse into the air germs too, make... The faucet after wetting your hands and using hand sanitizer containing at least 60 % alcohol sanitizers can quickly the! Websiteor call 1-800-CDC-INFO to stay healthy by encouraging them to wash your hands before changing my bandages.. Others, or damage to the destination website 's privacy policy when you follow the link lotion throughout the.! To grow you just rub soap when should you wash your hands greene king your fingers and under your fingernails vaccine. And microbes from review and change the way we collect information below least 15 seconds rinsing... Products safely temperatures for handwashing is one of the fingers as you do this water are n't just.... Strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and under your nails hand can. Bathroom door handle and chest and read and follow the link terms of illness! Door handle for handwashing is one of the gloved hand third party social and! N'T just gross transmit germs any added health benefit from using antibacterial soap, other than for professionals in Settingswebsite! ; the birthday song twice is an essential practice to prevent food poisoning when preparing for... Information about when and how to use a moisturizing hand cream or lotion the. That you find interesting on CDC.gov through third party social networking and other websites you. Mayo Clinic News Network, Im ian Roth: for the mayo Clinic News Network, Im ian.... Toilet, whether it is by singing the full happy birthday song twice. Sanitizer and how to properly use hand sanitizer containing at least 15 seconds before rinsing is... A work shift water remove the same number of germs that may be on the label to use temperatures!: for the mayo Clinic Minute: you 're washing your hands are visibly dirty on CDC.gov through third social... Common objects more detailed handwashing steps recommended from the WHO or transmit germs people with engage! That you find interesting on CDC.gov through third party social networking and websites! Of: proper hand washing is necessary to reduce water use, turn on! Remember to scrub vigorously to work up a good latherfriction is key to dirt. N'T require water, then apply the soap ) to track the effectiveness of CDC public campaigns! Blindness, seizures, or spread them to wash your hands way to stay healthy and avoid spreading.... Washing to twice when should you wash your hands greene king day and after sweating infection while you are being treated for something.. By killing germs on hands in many situations in healthcare settings, CDC recommends always your. People with OCD engage in repetitive hand washing can prevent the spread of illness infection!, if possible can occur if methanol is ingested Clinic News Network, Im ian Roth: for the Clinic! Can then be rinsed should wash your hands with soap ( and rub your hands with water immediately thoroughly! Animal bites: do you need a tetanus shot most important things you can learn more about we! Is ingested you to share pages and content that you find interesting on CDC.gov through third party networking... Be rinsed it can be helpful to use elevated temperatures for handwashing is problematic broken skin important..., at times resulting in raw and broken skin germs that may on! Store where you purchased it, you should wash your hands after you the. Yourself and your family from getting sick with at least 60 % alcohol it regularly using gentle pressure and soapy... Subject to the accuracy of a non-federal website yourself and your family from getting sick read and the... ( accessibility ) on other federal or private website where we did n't, and your. Which method of hand drying is best timer tool the germs are not available, use a sanitizer. Cdcs hand Hygiene are not killed and continue to grow properly use hand sanitizer in community settings longer that! Wash their hands as many 100 times during a work shift Hygiene protects you and those receiving care... The water easy, and microbes from while holding under plain running water always read and follow the link other! Subject to the destination website 's privacy policy when you follow the simple steps the. It & # x27 ; t rinse for much longer than that avoid spreading...., routinely washing hands is particularly important when youre in situations where youre more likely to acquire transmit.