ICYMI: You Are Probably Washing Your Hands Wrong

By PAIGE AUSTIN (Patch Staff)

Did you know between 3,000 and 50,000 people die from the flu each year in the United States?

There are four key things you can do to protect yourself and your loved ones, say the experts: avoid people who are sick; get the vaccine early in the flu season; try not to touch your nose, eyes and mouth with your hands; and wash your hands. While most of us can’t realistically avoid every sick person, we can easily wash our hands. The problem is most people cut corners, said Dr. Matt Zahn, Medical Directory for Epidemiology for the Orange County Health Care Agency.

“If you want to keep yourself from getting sick, wash your hands. But the basics really matter,” said Zahn. “One of the frequent errors is you just don’t really do it. Take the time to make sure you wash your hands right with soap. People wash the heck out of their palms, but they miss the back of their fingers and around their nails.”

Many people briefly rinse their hands under water without using soap or scrubbing, said Kaiser Permanente Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Randy Bergen. The rinse and run won’t protect you from the flu, he said.

“The main thing is you need to use soap. You need to suds up, and you need to rinse off,” said Bergen. “Just kind of dipping it in the water is not sufficient.”

The Centers for Disease Control offers these tips that could spare you from a miserable flu and cold season while also protecting your more vulnerable loved ones, namely the very young and old.

• Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap.

• Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Be sure to lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.

• Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice.

• Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.

• Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.

Photo: Centers for Disease Control