Avoiding the Common Cold

Wash Away “Pesky Germs”

Do you know where your last cold came from? Scientists believe most people get colds and other illnesses by touching a sick person or by touching something a sick person touched. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t touch other people or things. And it doesn’t mean you have to wear gloves. All you have to do is wash your hands. Handwashing is the simplest and best way to stop the spread of disease.

Many germs collect on your hands throughout the day. Wash your hands often especially after performing these activities...

-Using the toilet
-Sneezing or coughing into your hand
-Coming in from playing outside
-Touching pets or animals
-Handling raw meat or poultry
-Disposing of garbage
- Before preparing or eating food.

It is important to wash hands well in order to get the germs off your hands and stop the spread of disease. To properly wash your hands, follow these instructions:

-Lather up with soap and water. The suds scrub dirt and germs away.
-Rub your hands vigorously as you wash them.
-Wash your hands front, back and in between the fingers. Soap up your wrists too. And don’t forget your fingernails. A good nail brush does the best for cleaning fingernails.
-Rinse well in warm water. Let the water run from the wrists to the fingers.
-Dry your hands with a paper towel.
-Turn off the water using a paper towel instead of your bare hands.

Teach your children good handwashing. They will learn by watching you. Set a good example by washing your hands often. Show children the correct way to wash to get “all the bad germs off”.

You may want to make a game out of it to encourage handwashing with children. Coat the child’s hands in cooking oil and cinnamon. Tell your child that the cinnamon represents bad germs. Instruct the child to try to wash all the bad germs off his hands.

The Medina County Health Department teaches proper handwashing techniques to food handlers, preschoolers, school children, as well as adults. Stop the spread of disease in your home by washing yours and your children’s hands often and correctly. If you have any questions regarding proper handwashing or the spread of disease, contact the Medina County Health Department at (330) 723-9688, 220-6265, or 336-4136.

Written by: Suzanne Thomas, RN, B.S.N., a public health nurse and clinical staff writer at the Medina County Health Department