The CDC Says We’re All Washing Our Hands Wrong

Experts say nearly everyone is washing their hands wrong and don't even know it.

Turns out if you're going by the Centers for Disease Control standards, yup I was washing my hands wrong. And I am definitely not the only one.

With flu season raging on and the expansion of the coronavirus threatening every day, now is definitely the time to be washing your hands correctly.

Studies have found that only 1 in 5 people at an airport have clean hands (gross!) and if we could raise that number to 3 out of 5 the global spread of disease would be cut by 70%.

That is kind of mind blowing news. And certainly makes me want to be certain I am washing my hands correctly.

This is a big travel week for many SouthCoast families, with winter break here and all. So here's what you should know as you travel the friendly skies (or simply stay home).

According to the CDC there are lots of key times during the day to wash your hands including:

• Before, during, and after preparing food
• Before eating food
• Before and after caring for someone at home who is sick with vomiting or diarrhea
• Before and after treating a cut or wound
• After using the toilet
• After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet
• After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
• After touching an animal, animal feed, or animal waste
• After handling pet food or pet treats
• After touching garbage

Let's be honest, those seems pretty obvious. So now that you know when to wash, here's how they say to wash.

• Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap.
• Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
• Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Which is about the time it takes to hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice.
• Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.
• Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.

For me it was the time. I definitely wasn't washing long enough. But now I know how to wash the CDC way and I'm never going back.