Do you really know how to wash your hands to avoid coronavirus? Here’s a tutorial
You may have learned how to do it in nursery school. And the early lesson will come in handy these days.
The key way to prevent the new coronavirus is reportedly fairly simple: Wash your hands.
But do you really know how to do it?
There are a few jingles devoted to the hygienic practice, but not many for adults who often rely on a quick rinse at the sink or a few squirts at the office hand-sanitizer station.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that there really is an effective way to wash your hands, and it’s a little on the time consuming time: We’re talking a full 20 seconds. The organization recommends reciting the words of the “Happy Birthday” song (in your head) as you lather up, and use “Corona” in place of the person’s name. (That last part was a lame attempt at humor.)
“Clean hands can stop germs from spreading from one person to another and throughout an entire community — from your home and workplace to childcare facilities and hospitals,” the website says.
Why is soap so effective? The detergent’s molecules act as a kind of magnet to remove microbes by pulling them away.
Need a quick refresher? Soak your hands with clean, running water (it can be cold), turn off the tap, and squirt a good amount of soap over them, then lather up by rubbing your hands together. Rub the backs of your hands, between your fingers and even under your nails, surgeon style. Rinse well under the tap.
If you’re not near a sink, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol, the CDC recommends. Apply the product to the palm, rub the gel “over all the surfaces of your hands and fingers until your hands are dry.” Again, this process is roughly 20 seconds so you can use the “Happy birthday” song. Or you could try a few lyrics from your favorite pop song; The Los Angeles Times recommended a few.
Try to avoid touching objects in public spaces such as door handles (use your sleeve), paper towel dispensers (try an elbow bump) or elevator buttons (same). Wipe down your workstation, including the phone, with a known disinfectant such as Lysol or bleach.
And those people coughing at the next workstation? Tell them to go home.
For more information on how to keep from getting the coronavirus, visit the CDC’s website or call 800-CDC-INFO.
This story was originally published March 4, 2020 at 1:01 PM.
