Good Hygiene Habits - Prevention Tips

Practicing proper hygiene is one of the best ways to avoid becoming sick and to not pass germs on to others.  Many illnesses are spread from person to person in respiratory droplets of coughs and sneezes (droplet spread).  The droplets from a cough or sneeze of an infected person move through the air and are deposited on the mouth or nose of people nearby. Some germs are also spread when a person unknowingly touches respiratory droplets from another person that are on a surface and then touches his or her own eyes, mouth or nose.

This page will help you learn some steps you can take to limit the spread of viruses (including both seasonal and pandemic influenza).  Following these simple, non-medical actions will help to protect yourself and your loved ones.

Handwashing

Keeping hands clean is one of the most important components in maintaining good hygiene.  Children should be taught to wash hands frequently and correctly; their parents should help reinforce this by modeling the desired behaviors.

When washing hands with soap and water:

• Wet your hands with clean running water and apply soap. Use warm water if it is available.
• Rub hands together to make lather and scrub all surfaces, including wrists, between fingers and the back of the hands.
• Continue rubbing hands for 20 seconds, which is about the time it takes to sing "Happy Birthday" twice through.
• Rinse off hands under running water 
• Dry your hands using a paper towel or air dryer. If possible, use your paper towel to turn off the faucet.
• Remember: If soap and water are not available, use alcohol-based gel to clean hands.

 When using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer: 

• Apply product to the palm of one hand 
• Rub hands together 
• Rub the product over all surfaces of hands and fingers until hands are dry. 
• Alcohol-based hand rubs significantly reduce the number of germs on skin and are fast acting.
• Make sure your hand sanitizer contains at least 60% alcohol.

 When should you wash your hands? 

• Before preparing or eating food 
• After going to the bathroom 
• After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has gone to the bathroom 
• Before and after tending to someone who is sick 
• After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing 
• After handling an animal or animal waste 
• After handling garbage 
• Before and after treating a cut or wound 

Coughing and Sneezing Etiquette

Coughing and sneezing can spread airborne diseases (such as colds and flu) from one person to another.  When the respiratory droplets in coughs and sneezes get transferred among people it is called “droplet spread.”  By coughing and sneezing the right way, you can limit the transmission of germs.

• Make sure that you cover your mouth and nose with a tissue each time you cough or sneeze.
• Put used tissues in a trash can.
• If you do not have a tissue available, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve, not your hands.
• Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer after coughing or sneezing.

Distancing

When you or people around you are sick, an effective method to halt the spread of germs is to stay as far away from other people as possible.  For example:

• Avoid crowds
• Limit travel
• If using public transportation, limit travel to off-peak hours
• Work from home if possible
• Maintain a personal space of three feet
• Stay at home if you are ill
• Keep children at home if they are ill
• Stay away from other people that are sick

Keep your living areas clean

By keeping your living and working areas clean you can prevent the spread of germs caused by contact with dirty surfaces.  Germs can be spread when a person touches respiratory droplets from another person on a surface (such as a desk or table) and then touches their eyes, mouth or nose before washing their hands. Some viruses and bacteria can live 2 hours or longer on surfaces like cafeteria tables, doorknobs and desks.

Scrubbing a surface with soap and water removes dirt and most germs.  However, using a disinfectant cleaner kills germs, giving even better protection. 

Household (laundry) bleach or rubbing alcohol (e.g. 70% isopropyl alcohol or 60% ethyl alcohol) should be used to sanitize surfaces.  Bleach should be used in a 1:10 solution (1 part bleach mixed with 10 parts water) and alcohol should be used straight from the bottle.  Keep these products away from children and use in well ventilated areas.

Set aside some time each week to clean and sanitize your home and work areas.  This will help you, your family and coworkers stay healthy and prevent the spread of germs.

(Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

For more information or printable posters, please visit:

• CDC’s “Be a Germstopper”

• CDC’s “Ounce of Prevention” campaign

• CDC’s Hand Hygiene in Healthcare Settings

• CDC’s Clean Hands Save Lives

• Hand Hygiene in an Emergency

• Clean Hands Coalition

• NSF Scrub Club

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