Handwashing is one of the simplest ways to control the spread of disease. Your hands pick up germs from everyday places like doorknobs and toilets, and from touching your eyes, nose or mouth. You can infect yourself by eating from hands that aren't clean, and spread colds and flu if you cough or sneeze into your hands and touch another person or an object that other people might use. Food service employees who handle raw and prepared food must be especially vigilant about handwashing, but it's also important to keep your hands clean in your home and workplace to protect yourself and other people.
Single Wash Method
The single wash method should be used frequently throughout the day, particularly after using the toilet and before and after eating. Take off any rings, watches or bracelets before you wash your hands. Run the water until it's a comfortable temperature and thoroughly wet your hands, wrists and lower forearms. In general, liquid soap is more sanitary than bar soap, particularly in public places, because the soap hasn't been touched by other people. Antibacterial soap is not necessary and can even be harmful because pathogens can develop resistance to the soap, and the soap kills beneficial microorganisms on your skin that help control germs. Use a few teaspoons of soap and work it into a rich lather. With your hands out of the water, rub your palms, wrists, forearms, and the backs of your hands. Interlace your fingers to wash in between them, and run your nails and fingertips on your palms to thoroughly clean them. Scrub each thumb with the opposite hand. As you wash, sing the "ABC" song to yourself to make sure you wash your hands for at least 20 seconds. Carefully rinse all the soap from your hands and arms with running water.
Dry your hands thoroughly. Wet or damp hands can pick up germs more easily than dry hands. If you are in a public restroom with paper towels, use a towel to turn off the faucet and another towel to open the restroom door when you leave. This will protect your hands in case another user didn't wash carefully after using the toilet.
Double Wash Method
The Hospitality Institute of Technology and Management recommends using the double wash method if you are handling food that will be served to the public. This method should be used when you first come to work, after using the toilet, or if you've come into contact with your own or another person's bodily fluids, such as cleaning up vomit or dressing a wound. Run the water to wet your hands and forearms thoroughly, and wet a nail brush as well. Put several teaspoons of liquid soap on the nailbrush and scrub your fingernails and fingertips until they are thoroughly lathered. Hold your fingers and the brush under running water and continue scrubbing until the soap is completely rinsed away from the brush and your hands. Wash your hands again as in the single wash method, and dry them carefully.
Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizer
Sometimes soap and water aren't available when you need to wash your hands. Although alcohol-based hand sanitizer isn't as effective as soap and water, it will do in a pinch. Consider carrying some with you when you or a family member are ill, or during flu season, especially if you use public transportation or work in a public place. To wash your hands with sanitizer, squirt enough into your palm to wet both hands. Rub your palms together vigorously, then rub the sanitizer all over the backs of your hands, between your fingers and on your wrists. It will dry quickly on its own.
References
- Hospitality Institute of Technology and Management: A "Safe Hands" Hand Wash Program For Retail Food Operations
- Ontario Public Health Department: Handwashing
- Mayo Clinic: Hand Washing Dos and Don'ts
- Center for Disease Control and Prevention: Wash Your Hands
- Hoag Health Information: Best Methods For Hand Washing & Drying
