We continue to talk about it and want to reiterate it again, seriously, wash your hands. Handwashing is one of the most effective ways to protect yourself and others against harmful microorganisms that are everywhere. Germs are easily spread via touch and practicing good hand hygiene is a highly effective way to stop the spread of illnesses like COVID-19 and many other minor to serious diseases.
Why is Handwashing Important?
According to the CDC, germs can spread from other people or surfaces when you:
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Touch your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
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Prepare or eat food and drinks with unwashed hands
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Touch a contaminated surface or objects
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Blow your nose, cough, or sneeze into hands and then touch other people’s hands or common objects
Because germs are easily transferred via touch, one of the best ways to protect yourself and others is to wash your hands often. If soap and water are not readily available to you, you can use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% ethanol or 70% isopropanol.
Wash Your Hands - World Hand Hygiene Day Resources From the CDC
Take Action - Wash Your Hands
It seems simple enough to wash your hands, but many of us have developed bad habits of not washing as often as we should or not washing as long as we should. Remember to wash your hands frequently. Think about hand washing before and after you eat, after you touch your face, before you touch your face, after you use the restroom, and simply when in doubt wash your hands. Be sure to check out our article on handwashing basics to learn more about how to properly wash.