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 We use our hands everyday to carry out many tasks – from personal grooming and handling items to caring for others as well. This means that your hands touch many, many surfaces in the course of a day’s work, some of which may be crawling with germs. Infections may be spread indirectly when a person touches a contaminated surface such as a tabletop and then touches his nose or mouth.
Of all the ways to avoid getting sick and spreading illness to others, hand washing is the cheapest and easiest! However, knowing when and HOW to wash your hands are essential. Here’s a quick guide to hand hygiene
When should you wash your hands?
You should always wash your hands before:
· Preparing food
· Eating
· Attending to cuts or feeding someone medicine
· Touching someone who is unwell or has an injury
· Inserting or removing your contact lenses
You should always wash your hands after:
· Visiting the restroom
· Preparing food, especially if you handle raw meat or seafood
· Changing a diaper
· Touching an animal or animal toys, leashes or waste
· Blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing into your hands (always use a tissue or handkerchief when you need to cough or blow your nose)
· Attending to cuts
· Touching someone who is unwell or has an injury
· Handling garbage or dirty items such as soiled clothes and household items
· Taking part in a sports activity e.g. a game of football
In addition, always wash your hands if they look or feel dirty.
How should you wash your hands?
It is best to wash your hands with water and a suitable soap such as Kirei Kirei Anti-bacterial Foaming Hand Soap. You can follow these steps:
1. Apply soap to your hands.
2. Rub your hands together to work up a good lather (foam).
3. Rub your hands vigorously for at least 20 seconds. Remember to scrub all surfaces, including the backs of your hands, wrists, between your fingers and under your fingernails. If you are teaching young children to wash their hands, you can suggest that they wash their hands for as long as it takes them to sing “London Bridge is Falling Down”.
4. Rinse your hands well.
5. Dry your hands with a clean or disposable towel.
Click here for the correct technique of washing hands (poster courtesy of the Health Promotion Board, Singapore).
If soap and water are not available, a rinse-free sanitizer such as Kirei Kirei Anti-bacterial Hand Sanitizer is a good alternative. To use a hand sanitizer properly, follow these steps:
· Apply a few drops of the hand sanitizer to the palm of your hand to wet your hands completely.
· Rub your hands together, covering all surfaces, for up to 25 seconds or until they feel dry.
Hand washing doesn't take a lot of time and effort, but when done properly, it can go a long way towards ensuring the health and wellbeing of you and your family 
Answer these questions below to win a Kirei Kirei Gift Set worth $50 (4 winners)!
- During handwashing, we should rub all surfaces of your hands including the back of your hands, wrists, between your fingers and under your fingernails for at least 20sec. True / False?
- When soap and water is not available, you should use a rinse-free hand sanitizer such as Kirei Kirei Anti-bacterial Hand Sanitizer. True/False
Email your answers to
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with 'Kirei Kirei - Contest 4' in the subject header, and include your name, IC No, contact number and address. Closing date is 10 September 2010. All winners will be contacted by email.
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