Newsroom | Community Health
Office Visit: Clean up Your Act This Winter
Dec. 5, 2024
December brings good tidings of comfort and joy… and the dreaded flu and cold season. The people you typically enjoy being around, including family, friends, coworkers and children, suddenly become germ-spreaders. Frequent and adequate handwashing is one way to fight off germs.
Respiratory viruses like COVID-19 and the flu spread after mucus or droplets containing the virus enter your body through your eyes, nose or throat. Most often, with your hands. Washing your hands with soap and water is one of the easiest ways to stay healthy this winter.
Here’s everything you need to know about how to wash your hands the right way, according to UNICEF:
Step 1: Wet hands with running water.
Step 2: Apply enough soap to cover wet hands.
Step 3: Scrub all surfaces of the hands — including back of hands, between fingers and under nails — at least 20 seconds.
Step 4: Rinse thoroughly with running water.
Step 5: Dry hands with a clean cloth or single-use towel.
Todd Hoffman, M.D.
The best times to wash your hands include before and after eating, as well as after visiting a public place, caring for a sick person and using the restroom. Handwashing is the best option for ridding yourself of germs, but hand sanitizer can be a convenient and effective back-up when used properly. Choose a sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol and rub it into your hands at least 20 seconds.
When you aren’t feeling well, wash your hands often and practice proper sneezing and coughing etiquette. Staying healthy this winter doesn’t have to be a dirty job.
Let’s make it a good month.
Todd Hoffman, M.D., C.P.E., is chief medical officer of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma, a division of Health Care Service Corp., a Mutual Legal Reserve Company.