During these uncertain times, everyone is encouraged to follow safety guidelines for the betterment of your self, as well as others. It cannot be stressed enough, the importance or severity of good hands washing techniques. While practicing keeping your hands from your face.

Washing of hands: Why you need to wash your hands
One of the best ways to prevent the spread of diarrheal and respiratory infections is through washing of hands.
When you cultivate the habit of washing hands and teaching your kids to wash their hands, you practically stop the spread of germs from one person to the next and saving your time, money, and energy visiting the doctor.

Furthermore, germs spread from other people or surfaces when you do the following:
• Blow your nose, sneeze, cough into hands and then touch other surfaces or people’s hands.
• Touch a polluted surface or common objects
• Touch your eyes, nose, and mouth with dirty hands
• Eat food and drinks with unwashed hands

Why do you need to wash your hands?
The importance of washing your hands cannot be overemphasized; clean hands stop you from getting sick and spreading germs. Also, many diseases and conditions are spread by not dirty hands and not washing them with soap and running water.
So, to stop the spread of diseases, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, you need to wash your hands thoroughly and also teach people around you to wash their hands.

When do I need to wash my hands?
You need to wash your hands often, also help your loved ones to stay healthy by teaching them how to wash their hands. Moreover, the important times you are likely to get or spread germs are:
• After touching the garbage
• After using the toilet
• After blowing your nose, sneezing, or coughing
• After handling pet foods or giving them treats
• After touching an animal, or their waste
• After changing diapers or cleaning up your child who has used the toilet
• Before, and after caring for a sick person especially if they are suffering from diarrhea or vomiting
• Before eating your foods
• Before, during, and after preparing your meals

Know that it is crucial to clean your hands, especially during the coronavirus pandemic. It would help if you washed your hands with soap and running water after using public things or being in public places such as the elevator, doorknobs, tables, electronic cashier/registers or screens, shopping carts, and gas pumps. Also, avoid touching the stair railings when using the staircase, and if you cannot use the stairs without touching the railings, ensure you wash both hands with soap and running water before touching your eyes, nose or mouth.

How do I wash my hands thoroughly?
Washing your hands seems pretty straightforward, but sometimes, we do it the wrong way. If you must prevent germs spread, you need to thoroughly clean your hands, from your home and workplace to childcare facilities and hospitals. Nonetheless, with these five steps, you can wash your hands the right way.
• The first thing is to wet your hands with clean, running water, then turn off the tap and apply soap.

• Secondly, run your hands together with soap to lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
• The next step, scrub your hands for 20-30 seconds
• Rinse your hands with clean, running water.
• Finally, dry your hands using a clean towel.
However, if you do not have access to running water, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. If you are not sure of the alcohol level, check the product label for details.

How to use hand sanitizer

Follow these easy steps when using your hand sanitizer
Apply the product to the palm of one hand, and then run your hands together.
Lastly, rub the gel over all the surfaces of your hands and fingers for 20 seconds or until your hands are dry.

What you need to know before using hand sanitizers
Contrary to popular belief, sanitizers cannot get rid of ALL types of germs.
You cannot use hand sanitizers to remove harmful chemicals from your hands.
You cannot hand sanitizer to clean a visibly greasy hands
Ingesting alcohol-based hand sanitizers can lead to alcohol poisoning. So, you need to keep it away from children and supervise their use.

Hand sanitizers should ONLY be used when there is no soap and running water to wash your hands.
Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are flammable; be careful when you go close to the fire.