The Importance of Hand Washing

    Quincy Cheek was part of a Community Health Fair held at New Bethel Community Baptist Church in Alexandria on May 31, 2008.  She demonstrated proper techniques in hand washing.

    Hand washing is your best defense against illness. Washing your hands at certain critical times throughout the day can prevent the spread of germs: bacteria and viruses. You should always wash hands before eating and/or preparing food. If you are handling raw meat, hands should be washed before and after. After using the restroom is another very important time to wash hands. Also wash hands after sneezing & coughing, after handling money, after working outside, after playing with pets and after changing diapers.

Hand washing is a simple, yet very effective way to ward off sickness. Use five simple steps:

1. Wet hands under warm, running water.
2. Apply soap.
3. Work up lather, washing hands for at least 15-20 seconds. Make sure you wash in between fingers and around wrists and fingernails.
4. Rinse well under running water.
5. Dry – with a clean single-use paper towel, if available.

Do not use hand sanitizer in place of hand washing – use it AFTER you wash your hands following the five steps mentioned above. Keep germs at bay by washing hands often! Encourage children to wash often too!

Images from the hand washing demonstration at the health fair can be accessed below.

Quincy Cheek, Assistant Extension Agent, with the LSU AgCenter prepares to demonstrate the proper technique for handwashing at a church health fair. Cheek answers questions regarding handwashing with a participant at the health fair. A very excited crowd of participants wait their turn at the handwashing demonstration.

Quincy Cheek prepares to give participants at the health fair a "squirt" of glo germ gel used to demonstrate the effectiveness of handwashing. Participants take turns going through the handwashing demonstration. Participants of all ages participated in the hand washing training held at the health fair at the New Bethel Community Baptist Church in Alexandria.