Presbyterian | Your Story | Centennial Care | Summer 2020

www.phs.org/centennialcare 11 Shaking hands. Lending a hand. Holding hands. We use our hands for all kinds of wholesome activities. Unfortunately, they’re very good at spreading germs. That’s why good handwashing is so important, especially with diseases like COVID-19 around. In addition to other preventive measures—like avoiding contact with people who are sick, disinfecting surfaces, and not touching your face—the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that people wash their hands often to help stop the spread of infectious diseases such as COVID-19. Kill more germs—wash your hands the right way Washing your hands the right way involves more than a small dab of soap and a quick rinse under the faucet. Here’s how to do it right: ● Get your hands wet and soapy. Use clean, running water— either cold or warm. ● Rub hands together and scrub every surface. Don’t forget the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails. ● Continue rubbing for at least 20 seconds and then rinse with running water. ● Dry off with a clean towel or, if none is available, just let your hands air-dry. You better sing Handwashing is one of the best ways to avoid getting sick. Use clean, running water, lather with soap, and wash for at least 20 seconds. Singing the "Happy Birthday" song twice is the right amount of time. Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Washing your hands thoroughly helps prevent infections Practice good handwashing often. It’s very important to wash before and after handling food and before and after using the bathroom or caring for someone who is sick or injured. Also, wash up after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing; using the toilet or changing a diaper; handling an animal, pet food, or animal waste; or touching garbage. If there’s no soap or water, it’s OK to use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Be sure it contains at least 60 percent alcohol. Sanitizers have limitations, though. They won’t kill all the germs, and they may not be as effective when hands are visibly dirty. So when you have the option, choose soap and water.