Keeping hands
clean is one of the most important steps we can take to avoid getting sick
and spreading germs to others. It is best to wash your hands with soap and
clean running water for 20 seconds. However, if soap and clean water are
not available, use an alcohol-based product to clean your hands. Alcohol-based
hand rubs significantly reduce the number of germs on skin and are fast
acting.
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 20 seconds. Need a timer? Imagine singing “Happy
Birthday” twice through to a friend!
Rinse hands well under running water
Dry your hands using a paper towel or air dryer. If possible, use your paper
towel to turn off the faucet
Remember: If soap and water are not available, use alcohol-based gel to
clean hands.
When using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer:
Apply product to the palm of one hand
Rub hands together
Rub the product over all surfaces of hands and fingers until hands are dry.
When should you wash your hands?
Before preparing or eating food
After going to the bathroom
After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has gone to the bathroom
Before and after tending to someone who is sick
After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
After handling an animal or animal waste
After handling garbage
Before and after treating a cut or wound
Wash Your Hands Campaign As part of its Wash Your Hands campaign,
the Miami-Dade County Health Department has developed a series of posters
of different sizes to highlight the importance of washing hands and coverring
your cough as an effective way of preventing the spread of germs and diseases.
Here is a list of different posters in English, Spanish and Creole languages.
You can print them and post them in your office, your school or place of
worship.
For information regarding services please call our Main Number (305) 324-2400. For Florida Relay Services, please call 1-800-955-8771.
Under Florida law, e-mail addresses are public records. If you do not want your e-mail address released in response to a public-records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing.
