Your hands are enemy number one Bacteria survive on warm moist surfaces Body temp at 37c is the optimum temperature for bacteria. Hands should be washed and dried thoroughly as any remaining moisture will encourage bacteria to grow again!

When should you wash your hands? After visiting toilet (toilet paper is porous) Before handling food After attending to ill relative or a baby’s nappy Between handling raw foods such as poultry, red meat, eggs or shellfish and handling ready to eat foods After changing of putting on a dressing After cleaning up animal wastes After combing or touching hair, nose, mouth or ears After smoking, coughing or blowing the nose After handling waste food or refuse After handling dirty cloths

Hand washing tips Around 3-5ml of liquid soap should be applied to wet hands. A good lather should be produced by rubbing the hands and fingertips together. Between the fingers, around the thumbs …….

……and wrists should be thoroughly lathered for about 20 seconds. Special attention should be paid to the fingertips and nails. The lather should be rinsed off in warm flowing water at around 43c”