When and How to Wash Your Hands
Handwashing is one of the best ways to protect yourself and your family from getting sick. Learn when and how you should wash your hands to stay healthy.
Wash Your Hands Often to Stay Healthy You can help yourself and your loved ones stay healthy by washing your hands often, especially during these key times when you are likely to get and spread germs: · Before, during, and after preparing food · Before eating food · Before and after caring for someone at home who is sick with vomiting or diarrhea · Before and after treating a cut or wound · After using the toilet · After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet · After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing · After touching an animal, animal feed, or animal waste · After handling pet food or pet treats · After touching garbage 
Follow Five Steps to Wash Your Hands the Right Way
Washing your hands is easy, and it’s one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of germs. Clean hands can stop germs from spreading from one person to another and throughout an entire community—from your home and workplace to childcare facilities and hospitals. Follow these five steps every time. 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. 
Use Hand Sanitizer When You Can’t Use Soap and Water
You can use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available. Washing hands with soap and water is the best way to get rid of germs in most situations. If soap and water are not readily available, you can use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. You can tell if the sanitizer contains at least 60% alcohol by looking at the product label. Sanitizers can quickly reduce the number of germs on hands in many situations. However, · Sanitizers do not get rid of all types of germs. · Hand sanitizers may not be as effective when hands are visibly dirty or greasy. · Hand sanitizers might not remove harmful chemicals from hands like pesticides and heavy metals. Caution! Swallowing alcohol-based hand sanitizers can cause alcohol poisoning if more than a couple of mouthfuls are swallowed. Keep it out of reach of young children and supervise their use. Learn more here. How to use hand sanitizer · Apply the gel product to the palm of one hand (read the label to learn the correct amount). · Rub your hands together. · Rub the gel over all the surfaces of your hands and fingers until your hands are dry. This should take around 20 seconds. Reprinted from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/when-how-handwashing.html. |
Helpful ResourcesAren't we lucky? Lorain County offers so many resources to help us all live better!
Lorain County Service Agencies(The list is alphabetical according
to type of services) AGING SERVICES Friends of Senior Citizens 44627 State Route 18 Wellington, OH 44090-9412 440/724-3804, tel. or 440/647-2113 Lorain County Office on Aging THRIVE! Partner MAIN OFFICE – Elyria 320 North Gateway Blvd, 2nd Floor Elyria, OH 44035 440/326-4800, tel. 440/244-6261, ext. 4800 Wellington Branch 115 Willard Memorial Square Wellington, OH 44090 440/647-0777 (direct line) 440/647-4626, tel. DIABETES PREVENTION YMCA of Greater Cleveland THRIVE! Partner Diabetes Prevention Program 440/574-0580, tel. 419/438-7345 (to register for classes) FOR MORE RESOURCES, CLICK HERE “Librarian’s Corner: Best Reads and Views on Health and Fitness"
New picks for books and DVDs! The list is made by Janet L. Hollingsworth, MLIS, Director, Herrick Memorial Library, Wellington. They're all at the Library.
Adult Books
• “The Yoga Lifestyle: Using the Flexitarian Method to Ease Stress, Find Balance, and Create a Healthy Life,” by Doron Hanoch • "Prevention's Complete Book of Walking: Everything You Need to Know to Walk Your Way to Better Health," by Maggie Spilner Cookbooks • “Eating for Life: Boost Immunity, Prevent Disease, Celebrate Good Food,” by Kristi Fuller, Better Homes and Gardens Books • "The Whole 30: the 30-Day Guide to Total Health and Food Freedom," by Melissa Hartwig DVDs • "Yoga for Arthritis" • "Daily Stretch" |
THRIVE! Southern Lorain County is one of 11 Community Collaboratives powered by United Way of Greater Lorain County that are working to improve the health, education, and financial stability of all residents in our communities.