Hand washing: A simple way to avoid getting sick.

The dangers of not washing your hands
Throughout the day you accumulate germs on your hands from a variety of sources, such as direct contact with people, contaminated surfaces, foods, even animals and animal waste. If you don't wash your hands frequently enough, you can infect yourself with these germs by touching your eyes, nose or mouth. And you can spread these germs to others by touching them or by touching surfaces that they also touch, such as doorknobs.

Proper hand washing with soap and water:

• Wet your hands with warm, running water and apply liquid or clean bar soap. Lather well.
• Rub your hands vigorously together for at least 15 seconds.
• Scrub all surfaces, including the backs of your hands, wrists, between your fingers and under your fingernails.
• Rinse well.
• Dry your hands with a clean or disposable towel.
• Use a towel to turn off the faucet.

Use of an alcohol-based hand sanitizer Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are an excellent alternative to hand washing. They're actually more effective than soap and water in killing bacteria and viruses that cause disease.

When should you wash your hands?

• After using the bathroom
• After handling animals or animal waste
• After changing a diaper or cleaning up a child who has used the bathroom
• Before and after preparing food, especially before and immediately after handling raw meat, poultry or fish
• Before eating
• After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
• Before and after treating wounds or cuts
• Before and after caring for a sick or injured person
• After handling garbage

Adapted version. © 1998-2006 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. All rights reserved.

• Clean your hands often
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth as much as possible
• Stay away from people who are sick
• Get regular exercise, enough rest and eat healthy balanced meals
• Cover your cough

For more information on the flu virus and flu prevention, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at www.cdc.gov.

Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Illinois Department of Public Health

The Environmental Health and Safety Office (EHSO) offers two chemical safety training modules that can be completed on-line. The modules are easily accessed via the EHSO address: www.uic.edu/depts/envh.

Laboratory Safety and Chemical Waste is required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for all researchers, students, faculty and staff working in laboratories with chemicals. This should be completed annually.

Introduction to Hazardous Material Shipping and Receiving is required by the Department of Transportation (DOT) for anyone preparing, shipping or receiving packages of hazardous materials (chemicals, infectious materials, chemical or diagnostic samples, etc.). This includes laboratory workers, office staff, and shipping and receiving personnel who handle packages and gas cylinders. The Hazardous Materials training must be repeated every three years.