Clean hands can save lives, and hand washing can protect you and your children from

the threats of disease-causing

germs.

Teaching your kids about WHEN and HOW to properly wash their hands can help keep their health safe even when
they are at school and away from you. Make it easy for them to learn and remember with a simple mnemonic and
instructions below!

S.T.E.P. —Wash hands with Safeguard, after using the Toilet, before Eating, and after Playing.

How to Wash Hands Properly in 5 Easy Steps

It only takes 40 to 60 seconds to keep hands squeaky clean. Follow the 5 simple steps below and say bye bye to
germs!

1. LATHER
-Grab Safeguard, wet it under clean running water, and lather up to make bubbles.

2. SPREAD
-Spread the lather around your hands

3. SCRUB
-Make sure to scrub from the tip of the fingers.

4. WASH
-Wash thoroughly, and make sure to wash every part of your hands – even under your fingernails!

5. RINSE
-Rinse off dirt and lather with water.

To remember these easy steps, watch this video of our Hugas Hugas Ating Kamay jingle.

With Safeguard bars and liquid hand soap, you are guaranteed that your kids are safe from preventable diseases as it
is clinically proven to provide long-lasting skin germ protection after hand washing.

Center for disease Control and Prevention 24/7: Saving Lives, Protection People

Clean hands save lives

Handwashing is like a "do-it-yourself" vaccine—it involves five simple and effective steps (Wet, Lather, Scrub,
Rinse, Dry) you can take to reduce the spread of diarrheal and respiratory illness so you can stay healthy. Regular
handwashing, particularly before and after certain activities, is one of the best ways to remove germs, avoid getting
sick, and prevent the spread of germs to others. It's quick, it's simple, and it can keep us all from getting sick.
Handwashing is a win for everyone, except the germs.

Learn more about when and how to wash your hands, the importance of using soap and water, and what you can do
if soap and clean, running water are not available. Whether you are at home, at work, traveling, or already sick, find
out how good hand hygiene can protect you, your family, and others.

Hand Washing Basics to Help Your Family Stay Safe

It’s simple to wash your hands the right way, and it usually takes no more than a minute. But did you know that simple
scrub can help reduce the spread of everything from respiratory illness to diarrhea? Hand washing is also one of the best
ways to remove germs, help avoid getting sick, and prevent the spread of germs.1 So, hand washing is important to
remember, and an important habit to teach your kids.

When you should wash your hands

You should wash your hands before and after you eat or cook; play with or feed pets; cough, sneeze, or blow your nose;
change a diaper; use the bathroom; dress a wound; handle garbage; interact with bodily fluids of any kind; or when they
look dirty.

THE 5 STEPS FOR EFFECTIVE HAND WASHING FOR YOU AND YOUR KIDS

Step

STEP 1: Wet your hands using clean, running water when available.

Reason

Germs can collect in standing water.

Why? Because hands could become recontaminated if placed in a basin of standing water that has been
contaminated through previous use, clean running water should be used 1. However, washing with non-potable
water when necessary may still improve health 2, 3. The temperature of the water does not appear to affect microbe
removal; however, warmer water may cause more skin irritation and is more environmentally costly 4-6.

Turning off the faucet after wetting hands saves water, and there are few data to prove whether significant numbers
of germs are transferred between hands and the faucet.

Using soap to wash hands is more effective than using water alone because the surfactants in soap lift soil and
microbes from skin, and people tend to scrub hands more thoroughly when using soap, which further removes
germs 2,3,7,8.

STEP 2: Lather the front and back of hands, between fingers, and under fingernails with Safeguard™ soap.
Friction helps lift dirt, grease, and microbes from skin.
Lathering and scrubbing hands creates friction, which helps lift dirt, grease, and microbes from skin. Microbes are
present on all surfaces of the hand, often in particularly high concentration under the nails, so the entire hand should
be scrubbed

STEP 3: Scrub hands together for at least 20 seconds.

More germs are removed the longer you scrub. If your kids get impatient, teach them to recite the ABCs twice to
reach the 20-second mark.

Why? Determining the optimal length of time for handwashing is difficult because few studies about the health
impacts of altering handwashing times have been done. Of those that exist, nearly all have measured reductions in
overall numbers of microbes, only a small proportion of which can cause illness, and have not measured impacts on
health. Solely reducing numbers of microbes on hands is not necessarily linked to better health 1. The optimal length
of time for handwashing is also likely to depend on many factors, including the type and amount of soil on the hands
and the setting of the person washing hands. For example, surgeons are likely to come into contact with disease-
causing germs and risk spreading serious infections to vulnerable patients, so they may need to wash hands longer
than a woman before she prepares her own lunch at home. Nonetheless, evidence suggests that washing hands for
about 15-30 seconds removes more germs from hands than washing for shorter periods 2-4.

Accordingly, many countries and global organizations have adopted recommendations to wash hands for about 20
seconds (some recommend an additional 20-30 seconds for drying):

STEP 4: Rinse hands under clean, running water.

Dirt, grease, and microbes—including infectious disease-causing germs—are carried away from skin, which can
help minimize skin irritation.

Why? Soap and friction help lift dirt, grease, and microbes—including disease-causing germs—from skin so they
can then be rinsed off of hands. Rinsing the soap away also minimizes skin irritation 1. Because hands could
become recontaminated if rinsed in a basin of standing water that has been contaminated through previous use,
clean running water should be used 2,3 While some recommendations include using a paper towel to turn off the
faucet after hands have been rinsed, this practice leads to increased use of water and paper towels, and there are
no studies to show that it improves health.

STEP 5: Dry hands completely with a clean towel, or air dry.

Germs can be transferred more easily between wet hands.

Why? Germs can be transferred more easily to and from wet hands; therefore, hands should be dried after
washing. 1, 2 However, the best way to dry hands remains unclear because few studies about hand drying exist, and
the results of these studies conflict. Additionally, most of these studies compare overall concentrations of microbes,
not just disease-causing germs, on hands following different hand-drying methods. It has not been shown that
removing microbes from hands is linked to better health 3. Nonetheless, studies suggest that using a clean towel or
air drying hands are best 4-6.

http://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/show-me-the-science-handwashing.html

When to use hand sanitizer

When soap and clean, running water aren’t available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60%
alcohol. Hand sanitizer quickly reduces the number of microbes on hands in some situations, but does not eliminate
all types of germs.
To use, simply apply the product to the palm of one hand, and rub your hands together, spreading the sanitizer to all
the surfaces of your hands, until they're dry.

A healthy habit to share

Teaching your children the importance of hand washing—when, why, and how—can help prevent the spread of
germs in your home, and help keep children safe from germs when they’re not with you. Share these hand-washing
basics with them to help them learn when and how they should wash their hands.

According to WHO…

Are there disease risks from dead bodies and what should be done for safe
disposal?
The widespread belief that corpses pose a major health risk is inaccurate. Especially if death resulted from trauma, bodies are very
unlikely to cause outbreaks of diseases such as typhoid fever, cholera or plague though they may transmit gastroenteritis or food
poisoning syndrome for survivors if they contaminate streams, wells or other water sources.
 When & How to Wash Your Hands
Keeping hands clean through improved hand hygiene is one of the most important steps we can take to avoid
getting sick and spreading germs to others. Many diseases and conditions are spread by not washing hands with
soap and clean, running water. If clean, running water is not accessible, as is common in many parts of the
world, use soap and available water. If soap and water are unavailable, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that
contains at least 60% alcohol to clean hands.

When should you wash your hands?

 Before, during, and after preparing food

 Before eating food
 Before and after caring for someone who is sick
 Before and after treating a cut or wound
 After using the toilet
 After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet
 After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
 After touching an animal, animal feed, or animal waste
 After handling pet food or pet treats
 After touching garbage

How should you wash your hands?

 Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap.
 Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Be sure to lather the backs of your hands, between
your fingers, and under your nails.
 Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end
twice.
 Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.
 Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.

What should you do if you don’t have soap and clean, running water?

Washing hands with soap and water is the best way to reduce the number of germs on them in most situations. If
soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Alcohol-
based hand sanitizers can quickly reduce the number of germs on hands in some situations, but sanitizers
do not eliminate all types of germs and might not remove harmful chemicals.

Hand sanitizers are not as effective when hands are visibly dirty or greasy.

How do you use hand sanitizers?

 Apply the product to the palm of one hand (read the label to learn the correct amount).
 Rub your hands together.
 Rub the product over all surfaces of your hands and fingers until your hands are dry.

Caution! Swallowing alcohol-based hand sanitizers can cause alcohol poisoning. Keep it out of reach of young
children.