While not all infectious diseases are contagious, most are, and some are even highly contagious. To help protect yourself from infectious diseases, it’s important to maintain good hand hygiene.
We all know that we should clean our hands when they feel or are visibly dirty, it’s also best to clean them:
- Before, during, and after making or eating food
- Before touching your face, especially your eye, nose, or mouth
- After using the bathroom, or helping someone else use the bathroom
- After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
- After touching an animal, their food, or waste
- After touching garbage or taking out the trash
- Before and after caring for someone who is sick, or treating a cut or wound
If you’re in the hospital, or in another public place, it’s a good idea to clean your hands after touching high-touch surfaces like handrails, doorknobs, shared phones or other public use devices (like ATMs).
Hand sanitizer is a great way to take care of germs if you’re on the go and don’t have access to soap and water.
Additionally, you should cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze and cough using your elbow, avoid contact with people who have an infectious disease, and ensure you receive your annual flu and COVID-19 vaccines.
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