Current medical science reveals that it’s just as important as ever to wash our hands. Germs are both everywhere and easily transmitted, but for healthcare professionals, implementing a few new practices into daily routines will significantly mitigate the spread of even the worst illnesses. Proper handwashing involves six simple and effective steps: wet, lather, scrub, rinse, dry, and turn off the tap with a towel. Washing before and after certain activities is one of the best methods to remove germs, avoid sickness, and prevent others from getting sick.

What do the scientists say? Even though germs are everywhere, not all germs are harmful! We actually need some germs to keep us healthy and strengthen our immune system. Some good germs are eliminated through handwashing, but most of them reside under a deeper layer of skin, where your body maintains the necessary levels. Since the bad germs live on the outer surface of your skin, they’re easily removed, with alcohol-based sanitizers being the preferred method to keep your hands clean.

Alcohol-based sanitizers are in many ways better than just plain soap and water, as they can be carried around and quickly applied when in a hurry. While some now contest the efficacy of alcohol-based cleansers, the CDC advises the public to continue using them to keep germs from developing resistance. The antimicrobial activity of alcohols can be attributed to their ability to denature proteins, allowing them to kill germs quickly and differently than antibiotics or antivirals.

A common misconception is that handwashing is only necessary when hands are visibly unclean, but this isn’t true. Germs are present with or without dirt, grit, or grim, making handwashing even more important.

If you don’t have any alcohol-based sanitizers at your healthcare facility, using plain old soap and water is still a great choice! Make sure to clean every area of your hand, and follow CDC recommendations to wash for over 15 seconds. By doing this, you ensure that all contaminates and germs are washed away. Gloves don’t ensure cleanliness, either, so make sure that your hands are thoroughly washed, especially if the gloves you’ve been wearing are compromised.

You can communicate all of these best hygiene practices throughout your healthcare facility with wellness signage from EvacuationPlans.com. Our Wash Your Hands sign lists all of the six steps to handwashing in one easy-to-follow graphic. Install this repositionable vinyl sign to your restroom mirrors and easily remind everyone in your facility about proper handwashing protocols.

We at EvacuationPlans.com want to take care of all of your wellness signage needs. Our signage complies with both ADA and CDC guidelines, and they can easily be repositioned for interior use in your healthcare facility. Our signs are also covered by our unparalleled guarantees, including Life of the Building and ADA Compliance. Have any questions? Contact us at 833.917.1131 or emailus@evacuationplans.com, and trust our sign experts at EvacuationPlans.com to help equip your healthcare facility! It is important to communicate best practices for handwashing, so order your Wash Your Hands signs today!

We also wanted to take a moment to thank all healthcare industry employees for your dedication, sacrifice, and commitment to your patients and residents during this unprecedented time. We are truly grateful for all that you are doing to protect the medically vulnerable.