Prevention

The Proper Way to Sneeze/Cough (via WakeMed)

Stop the spread of germs that make you and others sick! Serious respiratory illnesses like influenza are spread by:

• Coughing or sneezing
• Unclean hands

To help stop the spread of germs, knowing the proper way to cough/sneeze is important:

• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. If you don't have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve, not your hands.
• Put your used tissue in the waste basket.

Clean your hands after coughing or sneezing.  Wash with soap and water or clean with alcohol-based hand cleaner.

Source: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (www.cdc.gov)

Hand Washing - An easy way to prevent infection [pdf]

Hand washing is a simple thing and it’s the best way to prevent infection and illness. This simple habit requires only soap and warm water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

Wash Your Hands: The Right Way:  When washing hands with soap and water:

•    Wet your hands with clean running water and apply soap. Use warm water if it is available.
•    Rub hands together to make a lather and scrub all surfaces.
•    Continue rubbing hands for 15-20 seconds. Need a timer? Imagine singing “Happy Birthday” twice through to a friend.
•    Rinse hands well under warm running water.
•    Dry your hands using a paper towel or air dryer. If possible, use your paper towel to turn off the faucet.
•    Always use soap and water if your hands are visibly dirty.

If soap and clean water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer to clean your hands. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers significantly reduce the number of germs on skin and are fast-acting.

When using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer:
•    Apply product to the palm of one hand.
•    Rubs hands together
•    Rub the product over all surfaces and fingers until hands are dry.

When Should You Wash Your Hands?
Although it is impossible to keep your bare hands germ-free, here are times when it is critical to wash your hands to limit the transfer of bacteria, viruses and other microbes.

Always wash your hands:
•    After using the toilet
•    After touching animals or animal waste
•    Before and after preparing food.
•    Before eating
•    After blowing your nose
•    After coughing or sneezing into your hands
•    Before and after treating wounds or cuts
•    Before and after touching a sick or injured person
•    After handling garbage
•    Before inserting or removing contact lenses

For more information, please call Health Services at (724) 938-4232.