Handwashing Helps Prevent Spread of Infection
- Category: In The News, Coronavirus
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Handwashing is the single most important measure to prevent the spread of infection.
When washing hands with soap and water:
- Wet your hands with clean, running water and apply soap.
- Use warm water if it is available.
- Rub your hands together to make a lather and scrub all surfaces.
- Continue rubbing your hands for 20 seconds. Need a timer?
- Imagine singing "Happy Birthday" twice through to a friend!
- Rinse hands well under running water.
- Dry your hands using a paper towel or air dryer. If possible, use your paper towel to turn off the faucet.
REMEMBER: If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer to clean your hands.
When using an alcohol based hand sanitizer:
- Apply product to the palm of one hand.
- Rub hands together.
- Rub the product over all surfaces of your hands and fingers until your hands are dry.
When should you wash your hands?
- Before preparing or eating food.
- After going to the bathroom.
- After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has gone
- to the bathroom.
- Before and after tending to someone who is sick.
- After blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing.
- After handling an animal or animal waste.
- After handling garbage.
- Before and after treating a cut or wound.
Downloadable Handwashing Poster
For COVID-19 updates, visit the following websites:
- North Oaks Health System at www.northoaks.org/coronavirus
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at www.cdc.gov
- Louisiana Department of Health at www.ldh.la.gov
- Tangipahoa Parish Government at www.tangipahoa.org.
