Stay Healthy with Handwashing
Cool fall days are in our future, and this means we will start to spend more time indoors. This change will increase our exposure to bacteria and viruses that can lead to illness. The good news is that if we are aware of our habits, we can prevent getting sick!
One key habit is proper handwashing, and it reduces respiratory illnesses, like colds, in the general population by 16-21%. There are promising results from handwashing, and if we teach children proper hand- hygiene, we can further reduce the spread of disease! Here are a few simple tips to share with your kids:
1. Wash your hands multiple times throughout the day. This includes before and after eating, after using the restroom, and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
2. Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds. Hum “Happy Birthday” twice through to make sure you scrub long enough.
3. Lather with soap and water. Soap is a detergent that removes bacteria and dirt when it is lathered for at least 20 seconds.
4. Scrub every part of your hand. If you don’t think about it, it is easy to miss the tops of your hands, under your nails, and between your fingers. Bacteria will build up if you don’t reach every part!
5. Change out cloth hand towels often to keep your hands clean after washing.
Staying healthy throughout the fall is challenging, so get a head start with proper handwashing to reduce your family’s risk of getting sick.