The Definitive Guidelines (and dance moves) For Washing Your Hands

We all know the importance of washing our hands in the effort to slow the spread of respiratory illnesses like the coronavirus (COVID-19) and the flu. But it’s a good reminder to walk through how we should wash our hands and the appropriate steps to fully scrub away those germs.

This healthy habit of hand washing was one of the top trends of 2020. But healthcare professionals continue to stress the importance that this should be something we practice all year round, especially as enter 2021. 

“Washing your hands thoroughly and correctly is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of germs,” says Jill Isabel, Harbin Clinic Infection Control Coordinator and Registered Nurse, “Our hands touch so many surfaces throughout the day and act as a carrier for germs and potential viruses. Twenty seconds of vigorous hand washing can drastically reduce our chance of spreading pathogens.”

The Georgia Department of Public Health and U.S Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends the following steps to keep those hands squeaky clean:

• Wet your hands with clean running water.
• Lather your hands with soap.
• Scrub your hands palm-to-palm, back of hands, between your fingers, base of thumbs, fingernails and wrists.
• Scrubbing your hands needs to last a minimum of 20 seconds.
• Rinse your hands with clean running water.
• Dry your hands with a paper towel, turn off the running water and throw the towel away. You can also use an air dryer.

To help us keep these important steps at the forefront of our minds, Harbin Clinic has created a catchy and entertaining video. All we wanna do is wash our hands right, and Harbin Clinic is here to help make sure those twenty seconds are worth it!

When soap and water is not available, an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol can be used. You can tell if the sanitizer contains at least 60% alcohol by looking at the product label.

Other tips to keep yourself healthy and slow the spread of COVID-19 and other contagious illnesses: 

• Wear your mask: Make sure it fully covers your nose and mouth.
• Watch your distance: Remain at least 6ft from others.
• Avoid large crowds: Refrain from attending large gatherings, especially if they’re indoors.