It is extremely important to maintain good hygiene levels by washing your hands regularly to help prevent the spread of infectious diseases.
Some diseases can be spread by contaminated hands. These diseases include gastrointestinal infections, such as salmonellosis, and respiratory infections, such as influenza, colds and coronavirus (COVID-19).
Making sure you wash your hands properly with soap and water can help prevent the spread of the germs (bacteria and viruses) that cause these diseases.
If soap and water are not available or in addition to handwashing, using a 70% alcohol Spirit Medical Hand sanitiser gel, can help prevent you from becoming unwell or spreading germs to others.
When to wash your hands
It is important to wash your hands thoroughly when they are visibly dirty, as well as:
- after visiting the toilet;
- after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing;
- Before and after changing nappies;
- before, during and after preparing and eating food;
- after handling rubbish or working in the house or garden;
- before and after treating wounds or caring for a sick person;
- before and after entering or leaving a public place;
- before inserting or removing contact lenses;
- After touching an item or surface that is frequently touched by other people, for example, door handles, light switches, petrol pumps or shopping trolleys;
- when you get home, arrive at other people’s homes, venues or work;
- after touching an animal, animal feed or animal waste.
Try to avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
If you feel a cough or sneeze is coming on, try to cough or sneeze into a tissue or your elbow. Always throw away tissues after use as well as wash your hands.
Encourage children to stay germ-free
It is also important to help children stay germ-free by teaching them to wash their hands regularly. Washing your hands together can help encourage them as well as show them how it should be done. Try not to rush and make it fun by singing the “Happy Birthday” song twice. Always make sure you supervise young children if using hand sanitisers.
To help you keep germ free, we have created a handy handwashing guide.
