Handwashing to Prevent Illness

During common daily activities, hands get contaminated with germs that cause respiratory, gastrointestinal or other illnesses. Germs get on hands from activities like using the bathroom, changing a diaper, handling raw meat, playing with animals or cleaning up after them.

When these germs get onto hands and are not washed off, they can be passed from person to person and make people sick.

When to Wash Your Hands

It is important to wash hands often because people may have germs on their hands then touch their eyes, nose, and mouth without even realizing it. To prevent illness and spreading infections to others, wash your hands:

• Before preparing or eating food.
• After using the bathroom.
• After petting, handling or cleaning up after animals.
• After blowing nose, coughing or sneezing.
• After touching an infected wound.
• Before and after treating a cut or wound.
• Before and after caring for someone who is sick.
• After touching garbage.

Proper handwashing = Soap + Water + Friction

Proper handwashing with soap and water removes germs and dirt. Scrubbing and rinsing are necessary to wash off the dirt and germs.

• The soap suspends the dirt and soils.
• The friction motion helps pull dirt and greasy or oily soils free from the skin.
• Warm running water washes away suspended dirt and soils that trap germs.
• Final friction of wiping hands removes more germs.

Application of hand sanitizers typically doesn't include the important scrubbing, rinsing, and drying steps and is not a substitute for proper handwashing. When there is no access to a sink, you can use alcohol-based hand sanitizers (at least 60% alcohol, dye-free and fragrance-free). Rub a generous amount and thoroughly wet the skin.

Proper Handwashing Technique

1. Wet hands with warm, running water.
2. Add soap.
3. Rub hands vigorously for 20 seconds, washing all surfaces:
   • Palms
   • Backs of hands
   • Between fingers
   • Thumbs
   • Fingertips and fingernails
4. Rinse, keeping fingers pointing down.
5. Dry vigorously with paper or clean cloth towel.
6. Turn off faucet with towel and open door with towel.

Spread the Word About Proper Handwashing

Studies by the CDC have shown that handwashing education in the community:

• Reduces the number of people who get sick with diarrhea by 23-40%.
• Reduces diarrheal illness in people with weakened immune systems by 58%.
• Reduces respiratory illnesses, like colds, in the general population by 16-21%.
• Reduces absenteeism due to gastrointestinal illness in schoolchildren by 29-57%.

By spreading the word about proper handwashing, we can reduce illness in our schools, churches, workplaces, community centers and anywhere else people come together.

Sedgwick County Health Department offers these free-to-download handwashing signage to place at handwashing stations and in washrooms, restrooms and gym locker rooms. If you do not have access to a printer, please stop by the Health Department at 1900 E 9th Street, Wichita, and pick up as many copies as you need.