What is Hand washing?
[[File:OCD handwash.jpg|thumb|220px|right|Hand washing]] [[File:Abklatsch.jpg|thumb|Washing hands kills germs. The picture shows a hand imprint into a nutritional solution, at 37°C, after 24 hours. Bottom right Unwashed hand. Top right: Hand washed with soap, and dried. Left: Hand washed with soap, dried, and treated with disinfectant.]] [[File:04 Hegasy Hand Disinfection Wiki CCBYSA.png|thumb|Hand washing]] '''Hand washing''' is the process of cleaning [[hand]]s with [[water]] and [[soap]] or other special liquids. It is done to take off dirt, [[Pathogen|germs]], and [[poison]]s. Germs and poisons cause [[disease]]s and other health problems. Germs are [[bacteria]], [[virus]]es, or [[fungus|fungi]]. Some diseases are not stopped by [[antibiotic]] drugs. Hand washing prevents lots of new diseases. Not washing hands before cooking or touching food is [[risk]]y. ==When hands are washed== Always wash hands: *After using the [[toilet]], urinate, or defecate. *After touching an animal or pet, such as a dog, cat, or turtle. *Before and after touching or helping a sick person. *Before making or cooking food. *After touching uncooked [[meat]], [[fish]], or poultry ([[bird]] meat). Some uncooked foods carry diseases. *Before eating so as to prevent [[pollution|contamination]] of food from germs. *After blowing one's nose/or sneezing into his/her hand. ==Washing hands== Use soap and warm (running, if available) water. Wet hands and add soap. Rub wet hands strongly with soap outside running water more than 10 seconds. Rub all parts of the hands again and again. Clean all dirt under fingernails. Then rub hands under running water again and again to take off all soap. Dry hands using a clean cloth or paper. Use [[moisturizing lotion]] so hands do not dry if the hands are being washed many times every day. ==Families & Parents== *Train a boy or girl to wash his or her hands every time before eating and after using the toilet, urinating, or defecating. *Wash hands after taking off dirty clothes, pants or [[diaper]]s from