When I was growing up, my mother always asked me if I had washed my hands. To be honest, I always said “yes,” whether I had washed them or not. Like most kids, I didn’t understand the importance of handwashing. As an adult, though, I realize that my mother’s constant reminders to wash my hands weren’t nagging; she was just teaching me good hygiene. And we can all recognize the importance of this, living through a global pandemic.

 

On May 5, we celebrated World Health Hygiene Day. We celebrate this day each year by reminding ourselves of what proper health hygiene is. According to the World Health Organization, hands are the main way germs are transmitted, so washing our hands is the best way to stop spreading germs.

 

We should wash our hands regularly, and specifically in these situations, when we are likely to be exposed to germs:

• before, during and after preparing food;
• before and after eating;
• before and after caring for someone who is sick;
• after changing diapers or cleaning a child who has used the toilet;
• before and after treating a cut or wound;
• after blowing our noses, coughing or sneezing;
• after handling pets or pet food;
• after touching garbage;
• after using the toilet.

 

Washing your hands is easy. Just follow these five steps every time:

1. Wet your hands with clean running water (it can be warm or cold), turn off the tap and put soap on your hands.
2. Rub your hands together with the soap. Lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
3. Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Hum the “Happy Birthday” song twice to help time yourself.
4. Rinse your hands well under clean running water.
5. Dry your hands and turn off the tap using a clean towel. If clean towels aren’t available, let your hands air dry.

 

If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

 

For more information about hand hygiene and World Health Hygiene Day, visit the World Health Organization at www.who.int and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention at www.cdc.gov.

 

Joseph Lopez is a health educator at Montefiore Health System’s Office of Community & Population Health