Hand washing

Hand hygiene

The most common way germs are spread is by people's hands. Germs are often harmless but they can also cause illnesses such as colds and stomach upsets, as well as more serious illnesses such as E.coli and flu. 

Effective hand-washing and drying is the single most important thing you can do to help to reduce the spread of infections. Washing your hands properly with soap and warm water and drying the hands thoroughly can help protect you, your family, children and others.

When to wash hands

You should make regular and thorough hand washing part of your daily routine; especially:

• After using the toilet, urinal or after changing a nappy
• Before and during the preparation of food, eating or drinking
• After touching animals or animal waste
• After handling rubbish
• After cleaning the bathroom, changing your bedding or doing laundry
• Before and after touching a sick or injured person, their bedding, any wounds or dressings
• After blowing your nose, coughing, sneezing or touching your nose
• Before and after touching your eyes, nose or mouth, or non-intact skin such as caused by acne, boils, eczema or other skin conditions
• Before and after visiting a hospital ward (alcohol-based hand-rubs are also provided)
• Before and after sports practice, games or working out
• Whenever there is bare skin contact with others or with shared surfaces or equipment - for example, this could mean in the gym, after travelling on public transport or doing the shopping.

Drying hands

When you wash your hands with soap and water and rinse in running water you will have removed a large number of germs. Hand drying properly will reduce the number of germs further and will prevent the skin from picking up germs more easily. If hands are not dried properly your skin may become sore and cracked, encouraging more germs to settle on your hands. Germs are also attracted to wet or damp areas.

Only ever use a towel that hasn’t been used by anyone else, whether at home or in public places. Paper towels are preferable in public places as you can wipe the germs off, but if not available, a hot air dryer will do. Remember to dry the whole of each hand, especially the fingertips and between the fingers.

Prevent the spread of infection

Cover your nose and mouth with a disposable single-use tissue when sneezing, coughing, wiping and blowing your nose. 

Dispose of used tissues promptly in the nearest waste bin. 

Wash your hands with soap and water after coughing, sneezing, or using tissues.

Remember, alcohol-based hand-rub is useful when soap and water are not available, but it doesn't work if your hands are soiled. Alcohol-based hand-rubs are also not effective against viral gastro-enteritis - including norovirus, also known as winter vomiting virus. 

Don't forget to encourage children to wash and dry their hands thoroughly at important times during the day.