Safety News Pathogen- What's on Your Hands by Unknown Author
Pathogen – any infectious or biological agent that causes disease or illness.
• Dry your hands with a single use towel or air dryer.
The control of any virus begins with basic hygiene you may spread germs casually by touching another person, sneezing or coughing in the close proximity of another person.
• Turn off the taps/faucets with a paper towel.
You can also catch germs and transmit germs by touching contaminated surfaces such as door knobs, key boards, telephones; pretty much anything that is accessible by the general public.
• Protect your hands from touching dirty surfaces as you leave the bathroom. • Want to know how long to wash your hands? Sing happy birthday to yourself and practice effective washing techniques the entire song approximately 20 to 30 seconds. S
Best Defense – WASH YOU HANDS FEQUENTLY! Don’t touch your face, eyes, nose or mouth. Assume that contact with any human body fluid is infectious. The CDC recommends washing thoroughly and vigorously with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, followed by hand-drying with a paper towel. In the absence of running water, an alcohol-based hand gel or wipe will suffice, although nothing beats good ol’ soap and water. How do I properly wash my hands? For effective hand washing, follow these steps: • Remove any rings or other jewelry. • Use water and wet your hands thoroughly. • Use soap (1-3 mL) and lather very well. • Scrub your hands, between your fingers, wrists, and forearms with soap. • Scrub under your nails. • Rinse thoroughly. 16 Texas Water Utilities Journal | www.twua.org
November 2021
