Do You Really Know the Best Way to Wash Your Hands?

How to Stop Germs!

Here are some simple steps for scrubbing those germs away. Demonstrate this routine to your child - or better yet, wash your hands together with your child several times a day so he or she learns how important this good habit is.

1. Wash your hands in warm water. Make sure the water isn't too hot for little hands.


2. Use soap and lather up for about 20 seconds (antibacterial soap isn't necessary - any soap will do). Make sure you get in between the fingers and under the nails where uninvited germs like to hang out. And don't forget the wrists!


3. Rinse and dry well with a clean towel


4. Use the towel or paper towel to turn off the faucet. This will protect you from germs on the faucet.


5. Use the towel or paper towel to open the door. This will protect you from germs on the door handle.

To minimize the germs passed around your family, make frequent hand washing a rule for everyone, especially:

• before eating and cooking
• after using the bathroom
• after cleaning around the house
• after touching animals, including family pets
• after visiting or taking care of any sick friends or relatives
• after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
• after being outside (playing, gardening, walking the dog, etc.)

Don't underestimate the power of hand washing! The few seconds you spend at the sink with your child could save you trips to the doctor's office.

You may want to put up a poster or flyer about hand washing. Here are some materials for you to print and put up at home. Click the image to open/download the pdf file.

How to wash your hands (English)		Hand washing for adults (English)
How to wash your hands (Español)		Hand washing for adults (Español)
Wash hands poster (multi language)		Hand washing for adults (Chinese)
You washed your hands, keep them clean.

How to Stop Germs!

There are other things you can do to stop germs from infecting you and other people. Cover your mouth with your sleeve when you cough. Don't touch your eyes, nose or mouth without washing your hands first. And if you're sick, STAY HOME! Going to school or work when you're sick will carry your germs to others.

Here's a fun website for kids. There are interactive games that allow kids to hunt for germs at home, test their knowledge in fun quizzes, and play word games that find hidden germs in puzzles.
http://www.dettol.co.uk/kids.shtml

You may also want to put up a poster or flyer about how to avoid infection. Here are some materials for you to print and put up at home. Click the image to open/download the pdf file.

Be a Germ Stopper - Boy		Be a Germ Stopper - Girl
Be a germ detective		Cover your cough (English)
Cover your cough (Español)		Cover your cough (Chinese)

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