Feature Articles
Hand washing during the holidays
Melissa Bess, Nutrition and Health Education Specialist, Camden County, University of Missouri Extension
It’s the time of year when everyone is sneezing, coughing, or has a case of the sniffles. Washing your hands properly is one of the easiest and most effective ways to avoid illness over the holiday season. Keep your family and friends safe from sickness by encouraging proper hand washing.
Hands should be washed after using the restroom, before
and after preparing food, after changing diapers, after
playing with pets, and after handling raw meats or other
foods that may result cross-contamination. Hands should
also be washed after touching frequently used items,
such as phones or cameras. It’s also a good idea to wash
hands after touching doorknobs or door handles, grocery
carts, railings, or anything other items people touch
often.
Hands should be washed for about 20 seconds, with warm
water and soap. Wash around rings, between fingers, and
under fingernails. Don’t forget about wrists as well.
Turn the faucet off with a clean paper towel, because
someone may have contaminated the knob with a dirty
hand. Hands should also be dried properly after washing.
If the door has a knob or a handle, using a paper towel
to open the door is also a good idea. There are plenty
of people who don’t wash their hands after using the
restroom and they touch the doorknob or handle when they
leave the restroom.
Hand sanitizers should only be used if soap and water
are not available. Soap and water are always the best
choice, but hand sanitizers can do the job if needed.
Hand sanitizers should not be used with small children,
because they may dry out their skin, or they may ingest
some of the sanitizer when putting their hands in their
mouth. Instead, soap and water or wipes designed for
small children should be used.
When cooking for the holidays, make sure you have safely
prepared your holiday feast. Washing your hands is a
good start. Also keep the kitchen clean, which includes
sinks, countertop surfaces, the refrigerator, and
cutting boards.
To safely store food, put leftovers into the fridge
within 2 hours. Bacteria grow rapidly at room
temperature and can grow to dangerous levels after 2
hours. If you are preparing a large meal, divide up into
smaller containers for easy refrigeration or freezing.
While eating at a buffet, a party or large gathering,
food safety rules still apply. Make sure foods such as
deli meats, cheeses, or dips made with dairy products
are kept cold and do not stay at room temperature for
more than 2 hours. Hot foods should be kept hot. If
foods are not at the right temperature, opt for
something else to eat. At a buffet, keep in mind all of
the people will be touching the serving spoons or
utensils. A good idea might be to get your food and then
wash hands before eating.
It takes about 20 seconds to keep your hands clean and
keep illness and germs away!
For more information contact contact Melissa Bess at 573-346-2644 or email at bessmm@missouri.edu.
Last update: Tuesday, February 19, 2008
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