Washing hands

Over the course of a day, your hands touch a lot of things that may have been contaminated by viruses or bacteria. When you touch your eyes, nose or mouth with your hands, you increase your risk of developing an infection such as the flu, COVID-19 or gastroenteritis.

Washing your hands is an excellent way to avoid contaminating yourself and others.

It is particularly important to wash your hands in the following instances:

• When your hands are visibly dirty
• Before and after handling food
• Before eating
• Before taking medication
• Before wearing or removing your contact lenses
• After coughing or sneezing
• After blowing your nose, or that of a child
• After using the toilet
• After changing a child’s diaper
• After handling garbage
• After touching pets or their toys
• After being in a public place

• Wash your hands often
• Teach your children and people around you to wash their hands properly
• Encourage them to do so often
• Make sure there is soap or an antiseptic product in your surroundings: in toilets, in your workplace and at places where you eat
• Avoid wearing gloves. Wearing gloves increases the risk of contaminating surfaces and can spread germs. The best way to protect yourself is to wash your hands frequently and properly

You can wash your hands with soap and water or with an antiseptic product. Soap and water must be used when your hands are visibly dirty.

Use ordinary soap. It is not necessary to use antibacterial soap.

An antiseptic, such as Purell^® or Bacti Control^®, is a product that kills germs. Such products come in the form of gels, foams or liquids.

Use an alcohol based antiseptic. To be effective, the concentration of alcohol in the product must be at least 60%.

Warning for children

Keep antiseptic products out of reach of small children. They must be used under adult supervision.

Continue rubbing until your hands have dried, without wiping.