CLEAN – Don’t get caught dirty handed CLEAN – Don’t get caught dirty handed! Great advice to keep in mind when handling and preparing food. This presentation will provide an overview of hand hygiene and how it relates to the safety of the food you consume daily.

Just because your hands look visibly clean, doesn’t necessary mean that they are (click to have germs appear on hand). At any point in the day, your hands can be covered with hundreds of bacteria, invisible to the eye. If you don’t take the proper steps to wash your hands before touching and eating food, you can transfer those bacteria to your mouth. A few bites of a nasty bacteria and you may find yourself with the “24-hour” flu. Learn what you can do to avoid making this mistake.

Wash Your Hands! Foodborne illnesses spread with poor hand hygiene YOU can reduce your risk Wash Your Hands! Hand washing has long been recognized as a major health behavior that can reduce the risk for and spread of illness. In addition to the common cold or flu, foodborne illness can be spread by poor hand hygiene when preparing food. Many do not appreciate the control they have in their own kitchen to reduce their risk of foodborne illness and that food mishandling, including incorrect hand washing, likely causes a significant amount of foodborne illness .

Of the U.S. foodborne illness outbreaks over a 5 year period, 1435 contributing factors were identified and poor personal hygiene accounting for over a third of these contributing factors. A review of surveillance data for U.S. foodborne illness outbreaks over a five-year period (1988 - 1992) by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that, of 2874 outbreaks, contributing factors were reported in 1435 and that poor personal hygiene was a contributing factor in over a third (514) of them. (Source: Nancy H. Bean et al., Journal of Food Protection, Vol. 60, No. 10, 1997; 1265-1286)

Only 58% of females and 48% of males washed their hands after using the bathroom! Do you wash your hands every time you are done using the restroom? If you answered yes, you may be only one of a few. An observational study of middle and high schoolers found that only 58 percent of females and 48 percent of males washed their hands after using the bathroom. (Reference: Guinan ME, McGuckin-Guinan M, Sevareid A. Who washes hands after using the bathroom? Am J Infect Control. Oct 1997;25(5):424-425.). Further, a Handwashing Observational and Telephone Survey done by Wirthlin Worldwide, an international research firm, found that people do not wash their hands as often as they think they do. From the telephone survey 94% of over 1000 adults claimed they always wash up after using the restroom; but from observing 6333 adults in public restrooms in New York, Chicago, Atlanta, New Orleans and San Francisco (3236 males and 3097 females) only 68% did wash their hands. Women washed their hands more often than men (74% versus 61%). The survey also found that 81% reported washing their hands before handling or eating food. (Source: FDA website: http://www.foodsafety.gov/~dms/fsehandw.html.)

Right handed? Your left hand may be cleaner! Missed a spot? The pale green on the yellow hand highlights the areas on the hands most commonly missed when people wash their hands. Some research reports that people who are right-handed, actually wash their left hand better than the right and vice-versa (Taylor L.J., Nursing Times, 1978;74:54-55). Since knowledge is half the battle, being more aware of the areas (or spots) on the hands most commonly missed, can help one pay better attention to their hand washing technique. Missed a spot?

Wet hands with running water and apply soap. Lather well. Rub your hands vigorously together for at least 20 seconds. Scrub all surfaces (backs of hands, wrists, between fingers and under fingernails) Rinse well. Dry hands with a clean or disposable towel. Use a towel to turn off the faucet. Most people probably think they know how to wash their hands, but do they really? Clearly, spots are being missed and with that, germs are being spread. To thoroughly clean hands, and not just rinse them quickly with water, following steps should be followed: Wet hands with running water and apply liquid or bar soap. Lather well. Rub your hands vigorously together for at least 20 seconds. Scrub all surfaces, including the backs of hands, wrists, between fingers and under fingernails. Rinse well. Dry hands with a clean or disposable towel. Use a towel to turn off the faucet.

Basically, anytime you touch something that’s dirty! When to Wash?  After Using the Restroom Handling raw food (before and after) Touching the hair, face, or body Sneezing or coughing Smoking, eating or drinking Handling chemicals Taking out garbage or trash Clearing Tables Touching clothing or aprons Touching un-sanitized work surfaces, or wash cloths Touching money Now that we have established the importance of washing hands, areas on the hands most commonly missed, and how to properly wash hands, it is time to discuss when to wash. Knowing when to wash is critical for optimal hand hygiene. Always wash your hands before handling food or drink for your own consumption or others. Wash after using the restroom (and after touching the door handle); handling raw food; touching the hair, face or body; coughing, sneezing, using a tissue or handkerchief; smoking, eating or drinking; handling chemicals, taking out the garbage; clearing tables, touching clothing or aprons; touching un-sanitized work surfaces or wash cloths; and touching money. As a general rule of thumb, wash your hands anytime you touch anything that’s dirty! Basically, anytime you touch something that’s dirty!

The bottom line on hand washing to prevent foodborne illness, is perhaps, best summed up by our old friends, Dick and Jane. See Dick and Jane chatting on the phone. See Jane wash her hands with soap and water. See Dick quickly rinse his finger tips under water.

See Dick and Jane grad a snack to eat on the way to class See Dick and Jane grad a snack to eat on the way to class. See what could happen to Dick and Jane. Bottom line . . . WASH YOUR HANDS BEFORE EATING! BOTTOM LINE . . .