By Crystal Malchose, PIO Pottawatomie County
This is an informational feature supported by the Pottawatomie County Commission to assist in providing educational information regarding the COVID-19 virus to citizens.
These first three issues of the COVID Corner are focusing on mitigation techniques. The first issue focused on the proper usage of masks; the second edition focused on social distancing, and this week we address hand hygiene. Karen Elliott, RN and infection prevention and cardiac stress testing nurse at Community HealthCare System helps us understand one of the most important and effective ways we can prevent infections and the spread of disease, including the Coronavirus.
Ms. Elliott shares “the best recommendations come from the Centers for Disease Control,” including:
Wash your hands often. What most people do wrong is they don’t clean their hands often enough or long enough. · Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
· It’s especially important to wash:
o Before eating or preparing food
o Before touching your face
o After using the restroom
o After leaving a public place
o After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
o After handling your cloth face covering
o After changing a diaper
o After caring for someone sick
o After touching animals or pets
· If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry.
· Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
Tips for kids: If you have them sing the ABC’s or “Happy birthday” twice while washing hands, that is approximately 20 seconds. Always supervise younger children when they use hand sanitizer. Set an example, practicing with your kids will help them more than anything. This is a good link for families: https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/handwashing-family.html