Training Room 3
1. Training Room 3
1.6. Page 7
Training Room 3: Road Map to Wellness
Protecting Yourself from Disease
Hand Washing
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How important is hand washing? Eighty percent of common infections are spread by our hands. According to Alberta Health and Wellness, hand washing, in combination with immunization, is the best way to prevent disease.
What diseases can you catch if you don’t wash your hands properly? Search the Internet or ask your friends and family for the answer. You might also read “Diseases Spread by Not Washing Hands.”
Read the following two articles:
- Wash Hands For Health—But For How Long?
- Province Pushes Handwashing in New Infection-Control Strategy
What are the main points in these articles? Do you agree or disagree with the position the articles take? Will you be washing your hands more often?
Discuss your thoughts and findings with a friend, family member, or classmate.
When Should You Wash Your Hands?
Wash your hands before
- handling or eating food or feeding others
- inserting or removing contact lenses
- brushing or flossing teeth
- treating wounds or cuts
Wash your hands after
- handling garbage
- coughing or sneezing
- blowing your nose or wiping someone else’s nose
- treating wounds or cuts
- returning home from school, work, or shopping
- going to the toilet, helping someone else use the toilet, or changing a diaper
- having any contact with a person who is sick or with the immediate environment of a person who is sick
Also, children should wash their hands after playing with toys shared with other children.
© 1995-2012 Government of Alberta
View “Influenza: The Importance of Washing Hands.”
Read “Influenza Self-Care—Clean Your Hands” to learn how to clean your hands with soap and water or with hand sanitizer.
Now that you know more about hand washing and hand sanitizers, which do you think is better?
Share your thoughts with a friend, family member, or classmate.
What About Immunization?
View “Influenza Immunization” to see Albertans talking about immunization and a message from Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health.
