Secret #30: Wash Your Hands

We’re not gaining any ground in the battle against food-borne illnesses. A CDC report released this spring found that for the third year in a row, the number of cases held steady, roughly 76 million Americans fall ill each year.  And a common source of admission is dirty hands.  Keeping your mitts clean can really protect you against colds, flu, staph, and many other types of infections.  So after the part we get tight-wet your hands under warm running water and lather up with soap- the next steps are:

1.  Scrub the backs of your hands and wrists which carry germs too.  Pay as much attention to these areas as you do your palms, fingers and fingernails.

2.  Wash vigorously for 20 seconds and then rinse well.

3.  Dry off with a paper towel, this helps remove germs and use the towel to turn off the faucet and open the door on your way out, to avoid reinfecting your hands (Just be sure the towel goes back in the trash)

by Mandy Ellen

{photo: flickr}