Is Your Health Worth 20 Seconds?

With the flu season upon us and continuing outbreaks of the Swine Flu virus, frequent hand washing is one of the best and simplest ways to avoid getting sick and spreading illness. Hand washing requires only soap and water, or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Below are several reminders regarding hand-washing to ensure you and your family stay healthy:

When to wash your hands:

As you touch people, surfaces and objects throughout the day, you accumulate germs on your hands. In turn, you can infect yourself with these germs by touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Although it’s impossible to keep your hands germ-free, washing your hands frequently can help limit the transfer of bacteria, viruses and other microbes.

Always wash your hands before:

· Preparing food

· Eating

· Treating wounds or giving medicine

· Touching a sick or injured person

· Inserting or removing contact lenses

Always wash your hands after:

· Preparing food, especially raw meat or poultry

· Using the toilet

· Changing a diaper

· Touching an animal or animal toys, leashes or waste

· Blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing into your hands

· Treating wounds

· Touching a sick or injured person

· Handling garbage or something that could be contaminated, such as a cleaning cloth or soiled shoes

How to wash your hands with soap and water (The 20 second Rule)

· Wet your hands with running water.

· Apply liquid, bar or powder soap.

· Lather well.

· Rub your hands vigorously for at least 20 SECONDS, (a easy way to remember is to wash as long as it takes to sing the Happy Birthday song)

· Remember to scrub all surfaces, including the backs of your hands, wrists, between your fingers and under your fingernails.

· Rinse well.

· Dry your hands with a clean or disposable towel or air dryer.

· If possible, use your towel to turn off the faucet.

How to use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer:

Alcohol-based hand sanitizers — which don’t require water are a popular and an excellent alternative to soap and water. If you choose to use a commercially prepared hand sanitizer, make sure the product contains at least 60 percent alcohol. Then follow these simple steps:

• Apply enough of the product to the palm of your hand to wet your hands completely.
• Rub your hands together, covering all surfaces, for up to 25 seconds or until they’re dry.

We hope you found the above health awareness tips useful. Other ways that schools, hospitals, and other large institutions can help communicate and reinforce the importance of safety and health awareness can be found by visiting http://www.awarenessideas.com/Safety-Awareness-s/3.htm where an array of useful products are offered that will help convey your particular message. Need a little help? Our creative team is standing by to assist you! For example, the items below can be customized with your logo/message:

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