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Publication #FCS8785-Eng

Proper Hand Washing for Elders1

Amy Simonne2

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Hand washing is an important way to reduce the spread of infectious diseases. Germs from human and animal sources can be transmitted to hands, which can transmit the germs to other people, foods, and anything else that the hands touch. Proper hand washing can reduce the numbers of harmful microorganisms on our hands and reduce the risk of some diseases.

Figure 1. 

Remove jewelry, except for plain wedding band, if you are going to prepare foods.

Figure 2. 

Use soap and warm running water.

Figure 3. 

Rub your hands and wrists together for 20 seconds (singing the Happy Birthday song twice). Use soap up to your elbows if they are dirty.

Figure 4. 

Rinse your hands and wrists under running water.

Figure 5. 

If you are in a public restroom, use a paper towel to turn off the water. Dry hands and wrists with clean, disposable paper towels. If you use hand sanitizer, apply it now.

Wash your hands before:

  • Eating or drinking

  • Handling or preparing foods

  • Touching serving utensils

  • Serving foods

Wash your hands after:

  • Visiting the restroom

  • Covering your nose or mouth when you cough or sneeze

  • Gardening or working outdoors

  • Handling pets and their waste

  • Working with raw foods

  • Changing baby diapers

• Doing other activities that dirty your hands

Footnotes

1.

This document is FCS8785-Eng, one of a series of the Family Youth and Community Sciences Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Original publication date November 2005. Reviewed December 2008. Visit the EDIS Web Site at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.

2.

Amy Simonne, Ph.D., assistant professor, Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611.

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension service.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Millie Ferrer-Chancy, Interim Dean.