Handwashing

Properly washing your hands should be an important part of your daily routine.

Washing your hands is your best defence against spreading illness such as the flu, colds, food-borne diseases, and norovirus (general information from Health Canada and information for health professionals from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care).

How to wash your hands

Follow these steps for healthy handwashing habits throughout your day.

Use regular—not antibacterial—soap and running water.
Lather the front and back of your hands.
Rub between your fingers and under your nails.
Wash for at least 15 seconds.
Rinse with warm water.
Dry your hands with a paper towel.
Use a paper towel to turn off the faucet.

Download 8.5 x 11″ signage (PDF, 133 KB) on how to wash your hands.

When should I wash my hands?

When to wash your hands is also key to preventing the spread of illness. Here’s when you should be washing your hands:

when you arrive at work or home
when arriving at, or leaving, a daycare
when arriving at, or leaving, a health care facility
when your hands are visibly dirty
after handling garbage
after handling dirty diapers
after sneezing or coughing
after wiping your nose
after using the toilet
after handling animals or animal waste
before preparing, serving, or eating food
before giving or taking medication

Curriculum Resources

We are committed to ensuring school boards and schools in our service area have the public health supports and resources they need for a healthy and successful school year. Please refer to our curriculum resources for elementary or secondary schools for proper handwashing in schools to control the spread of diseases.

This item was last modified on October 26, 2023