1. WHY WASH YOUR HANDS ? Handwashing is the single most effective way to prevent the spread of communicable diseases.

2. It’s easy to learn how to wash your hands and how to stop the spread of infection by washing the germs away. Good handwashing can prevent diseases such as: Shigellosis, E. Coli, Streptococcal Disease, Influenza and the Common Cold We can pick-up germs from doorknobs, stair railings or anything that has been touched by others who aren’t good hand washers.

3. WHEN SHOULD YOU WASH YOUR HANDS ? BEFORE YOU: Prepare or eat food Treat a cut or wound Tend to someone who’s sick Put in or take out contact lenses Do any kind of activity that involves putting your fingers in or near your mouth, eyes, etc

4. WHEN SHOULD YOU WASH YOUR HANDS ? AFTER YOU: Go to the bathroom Handle uncooked foods, especially raw meat Eat Blow your nose, cough or sneeze Handle garbage Tend to someone who is sick Change a diaper Play with or touch a pet

5. CORRECT HANDWASHING TECHNIQUE Wet hands with warm running water. Add soap, then rub hands together to make a soapy lather. Make sure to wash the front and back of your hands, nails and nail beds, wrists and between fingers. Wash hands for 20 seconds. Rinse hands with warm running water with your hands pointed down. Dry hands thoroughly with a clean towel and use that towel to turn off the water and open the door.

6. PROPER TECHNIQUE TO COVER YOUR COUGH and SNEEZE Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Then put your tissue in the waste basket

7. OR: Cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve not your hands CLEAN your HANDS after coughing or sneezing. WASH HANDS with soap and water for 20 seconds or Clean with alcohol-based hand cleaner