You Need Soap, Water and 15 Seconds
The single most important thing you can do to keep from getting sick and to stop the spread of disease-causing germs is to wash your hands often. All it takes is soap and water, 15 seconds of scrubbing hands and wrists, and then a good rinse.
Viruses that cause colds and the flu most often are transmitted on the hands. People commonly catch colds when they rub their nose or their eyes after their hands have been contaminated with the cold virus. By frequently washing your hands, you wash away germs that you may have picked up from other people or from contaminated surfaces.
Parents can encourage their children by setting the example. Wash hands often in front of children to teach them that hand washing with soap and water is more than a chore…it's an important way to prevent colds, sore throats and other infections. Also, because dirty hands often can carry germs, teaching children to keep their hands away from their eyes and mouth also will help prevent illness. Make hand washing fun for kids by singing “Happy Birthday” while they rub their hands together with soap and water. This way, you’ll be sure they washed for a good 15 seconds.
Cleveland Clinic is part of a growing number of hospitals that monitor hand hygiene among staff to reduce the spread of germs. This effort is part of a comprehensive program to keep patients safe. We are installing alcohol-based hand sanitizers around our facilities, and we're using best-practice guidelines and compliance reviews to promote good hand-washing techniques and to protect the health of patients, visitors and employees.
Hand washing takes on an especially important role during the winter months, when infectious diseases like the flu are in season. (If you haven’t already, you should consider getting a flu shot.) You also can protect your health during cold and flu season by getting plenty of sleep, eating nutritious foods and drinking plenty of fluids. Also, remember to cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing and avoid rubbing your eyes and nose. Stay away from crowds when possible, and don't share food and drinks.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that you cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, and then wash your hands for 15 to 20 seconds with soap and water, or an alcohol-based hand cleaner. This practice will help avoid spreading germs to others.
The bottom line is that hand washing is easy and effective. This season, with proper hand washing, you can protect your health and help prevent the spread of colds and flu to others.
WEB EXTRA! Flu Vaccine News
– Learn about the new flu recommendations inspired by a recent article in the
Journal of the American Medical Association
. Centers for Disease Control experts want more kids vaccinated, as this year’s flu season gets under way. Watch or download this video podcast at clevelandclinic.org/healthedge.
© Copyright 1995-2008 The Cleveland Clinic Foundation. All rights reserved
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This information is provided by the Cleveland Clinic and is not intended to replace the medical advice of your doctor or health care provider. Please consult your health care provider for advice about a specific medical condition. For additional written health information, please contact the Health Information Center at the Cleveland Clinic (216) 444-3771 or toll-free (800) 223-2273 extension 43771 or visit
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. This document was last reviewed on: 1/1/2007
