Frequent hand hygiene, including washing with soap and water or the use of an alcohol-based hand rub is the single most important way to prevent the spread of infection.
How to clean your hands with soap and water:
- Wet hands thoroughly with warm running water.
- Apply soap.
- Lather well, rubbing all hand surfaces for at least 15 seconds. Pay special attention to thumbs, between fingers, backs of hands, and under finger nails.
- Rinse hands well under running water.
- Dry hands with a clean towel.
- Use paper towel to turn off taps and to open the door to exit a public washroom.
How to clean your hands using alcohol-based hand rub:
- Apply enough alcohol-based hand rub to ensure complete coverage.
- Rub hands together and cover all surfaces including thumbs, between fingers, backs of hands, and under finger nails.
- Rub surfaces until completely dry (at least 15 seconds).
* Alcohol-based hand rubs are not effective if hands are visibly dirty. If your hands are dirty, soap and water must be used. Alcohol-based hand rubs should contain 60 to 90 percent alcohol.
Perform hand hygiene BEFORE:
- preparing, serving or eating food or feeding others,
- brushing or flossing your teeth,
- putting in or taking out contact lenses,
- treating wounds or cuts, and
- providing care to someone who is sick.
Perform hand hygiene AFTER:
- any contact with a sick person or their environment,
- using the toilet, helping a child use the toilet, or changing a diaper (should use soap and water),
- blowing or wiping your nose, or wiping the nose of a child,
- coughing or sneezing,
- handling garbage,
- treating wounds or cuts,
- handling or cleaning up after pets, and
- any time hands look or feel dirty.
For more information, contact KFL&A Public Health at 613-549-1232 or 1-800-267-7875.