Proper Hand Washing Technique

I admit it.  I am a total germ phobe.  Especially now that I have a child and have experienced how having a sick kid can be “H-E-double hockey sticks” on earth.  It is just the most miserable, helpless feeling.  So, during cold and flu season I am on high alert to do anything I can to keep these nasty bugs out of our household!   

Proper hand washing comes up time and time again as the best way to help keep prevent viruses, so I thought I would share some info I found online. 

Here are some tips from the Mayo Clinic on how to effectively wash your hands!  

• Wet your hands with warm, running water and apply liquid soap or use clean bar soap. Lather well.
• Rub your hands vigorously together for at least 15 to 20 seconds.
• Scrub all surfaces, including the backs of your hands, wrists, between your fingers and under your fingernails.
• Rinse well.
• Dry your hands with a clean or disposable towel.
• Use a towel to turn off the faucet.  ( I take it a step further and in public places also use a paper towel to open the bathroom door on my way out.  I figure why waste that good hand washing only to touch a dirty door handle!?)

Make sure to read this article further down, as it includes tips to help kids with washing their hands.  I got in the habit of singing the “ABC’s” when Emma washes her hands so that I know we are washing long enough.   Bonus:  it was how she learned her “ABC’s!” 

{Image and another article on hand washing from Blue Dot Health}