Medical hand washing time

Your hands can get germs on them if you place them in water that looks dirty, is contaminated (for example, during an emergency), or has germs in it from previous use, such as a basin with water used for bathing.

That's why CDC recommends using clean, running water to wash your hands. If you don't have access to clean, running water, use hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol to get rid of germs.

If you don't have clean, running water or hand sanitizer, you can still remove germs from your hands by washing with clear water.

7 steps of washing hands

You can also make water safe to use by boiling, adding the proper amount of disinfectant such as a mild bleach solution, or filtering it. Use the cleanest water possible to wash your hands. Avoid using cloudy water or water that may be contaminated with harmful chemicals or toxins, such as toxins made by harmful algal blooms.

If my utility has issued a Boil Water Advisory, can I still use tap water to wash my hands?

In most cases, it is safe to wash your hands with soap and tap water during a Boil Water Advi

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