wash your hands

Wishing You Healthy Holidays

With cold and flu season well under way in Georgia, it’s important to keep in mind the one simple step that can help you and your family avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others: keep your hands clean.  Hand washing is like a “do-it-yourself” vaccine—it involves five simple and effective steps (Wet, Lather, Scrub, Rinse, Dry) you can take to reduce the spread of intestinal and respiratory illness so you can stay healthy: keep calm and wash your hands

  • Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap.
  • Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Be sure to lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
  • Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice.
  • Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.
  • Dry your hands using a clean towel or air-dry them.
  • If soap and clean water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

Also, it’s not too late to get vaccinated:

  • Flu: The CDC recommends that all persons aged 6 months and older get the annual vaccination, with rare exception.
  • Pneumonia: CDC recommends 2 pneumococcal vaccines for all adults 65 years or older.

For more information about these vaccines and who should and should not get them, log on to www.cdc.gov.