One of the most important things you can do to stay healthy and help stop the spread of infection is wash your hands.

One of the most important things you can do to stay healthy and help stop the spread of infection is wash your hands.\u00a0<\/p>\n

That said, most folks don\u2019t really know HOW to wash their hands \u2013 here\u2019s a step-by-step guide.\u00a0 It doesn\u2019t take any longer than the way you\u2019re doing it now, it just gets you better results.\u00a0 Also, for LA residents, what with the drought and all, some modifications can be made as long as you really scrub your hands and rinse them thoroughly<\/p>\n

\n
1. Wet hands with warm running water<\/li>\n
2. Apply soap<\/li>\n
3. Rub hands together for at least 20 seconds, including between your fingers and under fingernails (if you\u2019re at home have a nail brush handy, if not do the best you can)<\/li>\n
4. Rinse hands thoroughly under warm running water<\/li>\n
5. Dry hands, dispose of towel<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

   When should you wash your hands?<\/p>\n

   \n
   1. Before preparing food, eating or drinking<\/li>\n
   2. Before and after touching your body (including rubbing your eyes, scratching that mosquito bite or blowing your nose)<\/li>\n
   3. Before and after changing bandages<\/li>\n
   4. After using the restroom (before too if your job or hobbies get your hands dodgy)<\/li>\n
   5. If you don\u2019t wear rubber gloves while doing them, after you do your household chores, especially cleaning the bathroom, changing the bedding and doing laundry<\/li>\n
   6. After coughing or sneezing<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      What about hand sanitizers?\u00a0 Yes, good idea to have around as long as they\u2019re a high quality, alcohol based product.\u00a0 Personally, since I\u2019m using them all day, I prefer EO brand<\/a> with their organic alcohol and jojoba.\u00a0 But any quality product will do the trick.<\/p>\n

      Wash with hand sanitizers the same way you do with soap and water.\u00a0 Put enough in your hands that you can coat all surfaces of your hands with product, then rub your hands briskly for 20 seconds, including between the fingers and under nails.\u00a0 If you end up with too much, wipe your hands with a clean paper towel.<\/p>\n

      So what\u2019s all the fuss about?\u00a0 The fuss is that most people have no idea how long 20 seconds is, and most germs are pretty tough.\u00a0 The friction and the soap or hand sanitizer are used to break the cell wall of the germ.\u00a0 It\u2019s not enough for your hands to look clean, you need them to really BE clean or you won\u2019t be protecting yourself.<\/p>\n

      Be your own best advocate.\u00a0 Anytime you go to a health professional or body care professional make sure the people working on you wash their hands before they touch you.\u00a0 And, of course, if someone is giving you a manicure or pedicure, make sure they\u2019re using clean instruments.<\/p>\n\n

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