A Note from our Nurse

Soap and water or alcohol-based sanitizers for hands?

Both alcohol-based hand sanitizers and hand-washing are effective ways of preventing disease, but remember these important facts:

Hand sanitizers are not as effective when dirt is visible on hands. Handwashing with soap and water, singing the “Happy Birthday” song, should be used to remove the oil and grime where bacteria can live.
Hand sanitizers should not be used in place of soap and water:
when preparing food
after restroom use
changing diapers
Hand sanitizers will not work in killing certain viruses or bacteria such as:
Cryptosporidium – causes diarrhea.
Norovirus – causes stomach pain, nausea, and diarrhea and to throw up.
Clostridium difficile – causes watery diarrhea.

Clean hands are one of the best ways to prevent infection or disease. For more information, visit www.cdc.gov/handwashing/

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