Key points to remember

• wash hands for 20 seconds and dry hands for 20 seconds
• always wash and dry hands before eating or preparing food
• always wash and dry hands after sneezing, coughing or
  - blowing your nose:
  - playing outside
  - going to the toilet
  - having contact with animals

How to wash your hands - step by step

1. Wash your hands under clean running water. Use warm water if available
2. Put soap on your hands and wash for 20 seconds. Liquid soap is best
3. Rub hands together until the soap makes bubbles
4. Rub on both sides of both hands...
5. ... and in between fingers and thumbs...
6. ... and round and round both hands
7. Rinse all the soap off under clean running water. Use warm water if available
8. Dry your hands all over for 20 seconds. Using a paper towel is best (or, if at home, a clean dry towel)

Ministry of Health pamphlets (in English and te reo Māori). Click on the images below.

Where to go for more information

HealthEd (Ministry of Health) www.healthed.govt.nz