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Community Corner

Dec. 5: National Handwashing Awareness Week

Find out about the best way to wash your hands and keep germs away in today's 5 Things.

1. It will be partly sunny today with a high temperature of 57 °F. The wind will come from the south at speeds between 5 and 8 mph. There is an 80 percent chance of rain tonight and the overnight low is 47 °F. The wind will come from the south at a speed of 7 mph, according to the National Weather Service.

2. Check out the newest edition of .

3. Did you know that today is the start of National Handwashing Awareness Week? At this time of year, with colds and flu lurking around every corner, it seems especially necessary to remember the importance of washing your hands. Kids don't always listen when you tell them to wash up, but it's by far the best way to prevent germs from spreading and to keep you and them from getting sick.

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Not only can colds and the flu be prevented, but so can conjunctivitis, pharyngitis, tonsillitis, bronchitis, bronchiolitis, pneumonia, Coxsackie virus, Streptococcus and more! According to the Centers for Disease Control, "the most important thing you can do to keep from getting sick is to wash you hands."

4. If you're a parent or a teacher who would like to help promote handwashing in your home or classroom, check out the Henry the Hand Web site. Here, Dr. Will Sawyer offers infection prevention tool kits for home, classroom and even hospital use. There’s even a Henry the Hand club and merchandise to help inspire cleanliness. Dr. Sawyer's four principles of hand awareness include:

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  • Wash your hands when they are dirty and before eating
  • Do not cough into your hands
  • Do not sneeze into your hands
  • Above all, do not put your fingers into your eyes, nose or mouth

5. Health Reach Community Centers also offers these helpful tips:
Why hand washing is important:

  • Children have weaker immune systems than adults and can become sick quicker.
  • On average, one of three E.coli outbreaks is caused by poor hand washing by food preparers. 
  • Germs that cause disease live in meat, vegetables and more. 
  • Germs are spread from unclean hands to food, usually when the food handler doesn’t wash after going to the bathroom. Germs are then passed on to those who eat the food. 
  • Germs spread from uncooked foods like hamburger to the hands, then from the hands to other foods like salads. The germs can remain in the salads and eventually affect those who eat the food. 
  • Putting cooked meat back into its original container re-contaminates the cooked food. Cutting vegetables on the same board used to cut meat contaminates the vegetables.

Six Main Rules of Hand Washing:

  • Always wash your hands after using the bathroom, changing diapers, cleaning up after your pets or handling money.
  • Wash your hands when they’re dirty. 
  • Always wash you hands before eating. 
  • Don’t cough or sneeze into your hands. 
  • Refrain from putting your fingers in your eyes, nose or mouth. 
  • Avoid touching people and surfaces with unclean hands.

Correct Way to Wash Your Hands:

  • Wet hands with warm water (not hot) and use soap.
  • Rub you hands together, making sure to scrub all areas.
  • Rub for a minimum of 15 seconds (or sing "Happy Birthday").
  • Rince thoroughly, then dry hands on a clean towel.
  • Turn faucet off with the towel, not your hands, to stop from recontamination.
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