How and When to Wash Your Hands

Soap and Water Present
- Wet hands with warm water
- Lather soap with hands out of water
- Be sure to wash front & back of hands, between fingers, around and under nails
- Continue washing for 20-30 seconds. Try singing the Happy Birthday song twice!
- Rinse hands under warm water
- Lastly dry hands thoroughly

*If possible, turn off the water with your paper towel

Without Soap and Water
- Apply alcohol-based hand sanitizer to palm of one hand
- Rub hands together
- Rub the product over all surfaces of hands and fingers until hands are dry

Important moments that call for hand washing
- Before and after eating
- Before and after preparing food, especially raw meat, poultry or seafood
- Before and after caring for young children (e.g. diaper change)
- After using the restroom
- After touching animals, their toys or waste
- After touching a public surface
- When you or someone around you is ill
- Before dressing a wound, giving medicine or inserting contact lenses
- Whenever they look dirty
- After contact with blood or body fluids (e.g. vomit, nasal secretions, or saliva)

*Remember when preparing meals that you should not only wash your hands but also the cutting boards, knives, and other food preparation material that you are using between raw meat, poultry, fish and vegetables.