DISEASE AND ILLNESS

Hand hygiene

Keeping your hands clean and drying them properly helps prevent the spread of illnesses.

Every day we come into contact with thousands of tiny germs that can make us sick. Keeping your hands clean helps prevent the spread of these germs and helps you and others to stay well.

When to wash your hands

It is important to wash your hands:

Before

• Eating or preparing food
• Dressing a wound
• Giving medicine
• Putting in contact lenses

After

• Sneezing, coughing or blowing your nose (or wiping children’s noses)
• Gardening (or playing outside for children)
• Having contact with animals
• Going to the toilet or changing nappies
• Looking after sick people
• Being in contact with blood or other bodily fluids
• Touching something that could be contaminated (ie rubbish, animal litter tray, cleaning cloths)