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Handwashing
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Practicing hand hygiene is an effective way to prevent infections.
Hand Hygiene
Cleaning your hands can prevent the spread of germs, including those that are resistant to antibiotics and are becoming difficult, if not impossible, to treat.
Here are some tips for preventing the spread of COVID-19 and other viruses from touching potentially contaminated surfaces.
1. Wash hands frequently and thoroughly (20 seconds) using soap and warm water.
2. Follow CDC’s Handwashing Guideliens
The CDC recommends that everyone follow these guidelines to maintain proper hand hygiene, especially after using restrooms.
- Before washing, dispense an appropriate amount of paper towel.
- Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold); turn off the tap and apply soap.
- Lather your hands with the soap.
- Lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
- Continue lathering for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? 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.
3. Use hand sanitizer when handwashing is not possible.
4. Be mindful of touching commonly touched surfaces or shared items such as the following. Wash your hands (or use hand sanitizer) immediately after touching commonly shared items, and before and after getting to your destination.
- Elevator buttons
- Door handles
- Restroom fixtures
- Faucets
- Printers, copiers
- Bus, shuttle fixtures
- Credit card readers
5. Avoid touching your face, especially after removing your face mask or after touching commonly shared items.
Proper Handwashing
Proper handwashing is a very effective method for infection control. When that is not possible, use alcohol-based hand sanitizers.
Hand Sanitzer
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reminds us that hand sanitizers should only be used as a substitute for hand hygiene when soap and water are not available. Sanitizers do not get rid of all types of germs, and may not be as effective when hands are visibly dirty or greasy. Hand washing with soap and water is the most effective means of protection against viruses.
Hand sanitizer dispensers have been placed campus-wide, near all restrooms and drinking fountains and other high-traffic areas, including:
- in high-traffic customer service locations (e.g., 1Capen, Student Services).
- in unit or department locations recommended by Facilities Planning and Management Officers (FPMO).
- throughout campus housing.
- in all campus dining facilities.
- outside all centrally-scheduled classrooms.
If there is no hand sanitizing dispenser located in public areas where hand sinks are not readily available, please contact University Facilities to request one.
Hand Soap
University Facilities continually restocks hand soap in shared campus spaces. Please contact us if you need your soap supply refilled.
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Environment, Health & Safety