As we enter the holiday season, it is the perfect time to adopt good handwashing practices to stay healthy throughout the winter months. Flu season is typically observed from October to May with high peak activity occurring between December and February. This often comes with an increase in transmission of respiratory viruses that can easily spread through contact with contaminated hands that are not washed properly, which can put a damper on holiday celebrations.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, handwashing can prevent about 20% of respiratory infection and 30% of diarrhea-related sicknesses. Good hand hygiene protects against sickness and disease such as the flu, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), COVID-19, and other respiratory illnesses. Handwashing is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of many types of infections and illnesses in all settings—from your home and workplace to healthcare facilities. Having clean hands can stop germs from spreading from one person to another and throughout an entire community. 

Good hand hygiene may seem simple to some, but knowing the proper way to wash your hands and practicing consistent hand washing, especially after going to the bathroom, before and after caring for someone who is sick or injured and before and after handling food, can significantly reduce the spread of infection.

 The CDC recommends following these five steps for clean hands and a healthy holiday season:

1. Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap.
2. Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
3. Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the "Happy Birthday" song from beginning to end twice.
4. Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.
5. Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.

If soap and water aren't available, you can use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

Remember, washing your hands doesn’t just help protect you from germs, but it also protects the people around you from getting germs. Be sure to wash your hands to help keep yourself and those around you healthier this winter!

Happy Holidays!

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Jessica Chavez, MBA, MSN, RN
Director of Quality Management
Accountable Healthcare Staffing