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Infection Prevention
Clean Hands Help Keep You and Your Family Healthy
Gas pumps, grocery carts, gym equipment, door knobs, cell phones,
remote controls, computer keyboards, elevator buttons, another person’s
hand—our hands come in contact with a wide variety of items each day.
That is why practicing good hand hygiene is crucial for our health.
Steve Streed, Lee Memorial Health System director of epidemiology and
infection prevention, says handwashing—whether with soap and water or
sanitizer gel—should be done regularly throughout the day. “Frequent use
of hand sanitizer or soap is OK and definitely encouraged,” he says. “It is
not necessary to wash your hands after every time you touch something,
but it is important to set a schedule, a routine for hand hygiene.”
Steve reminds us that there are specific times to wash, including:
- Before, during and after preparing food
- Before eating
- Before and after caring for someone who is sick
- Before and after treating a cut or wound
- After using the bathroom
- After wiping the nose or touching the face
- After touching an animal or its waste
- After touching garbage
- When hands are visibly soiled
- When visiting a family member or friend in the hospital—upon arrival
and when leaving
“In the health care setting, we are very aware of bacteria, infections and
contamination, so we are also very mindful of hand hygiene,” Steve says.
“But, germs are everywhere, so it is important for everyone to incorporate
handwashing to prevent the spread of germs and disease.”
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 hands together to make a lather. Scrub the
backs of hands, between fingers and under nails.
- Continue scrubbing for 20 seconds—approximately
the length of time it takes to sing “Happy Birthday”
twice through.
- Rinse hands well under running water.
- Dry hands with clean paper towel. Use the paper
towel to turn off the faucet.
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 the hands and
fingers and continue rubbing until hands are dry.
