Hands are the main vehicle for infection transmission. WHO says proper handwashing reduces respiratory and diarrhoeal disease by up to 50%.
WHO 6 steps: 1) palm to palm; 2) palm over back of hand, swap; 3) interlaced fingers; 4) backs of fingers locked, both directions; 5) thumb in opposite palm rotated; 6) fingertips rotated in palm. ≥40 seconds total with soap.
When to wash: before eating, before cooking, after toilet, after touching public surfaces (door handles, lifts, ATM), after coughing/sneezing, before and after caring for someone sick, before donning/doffing a mask.
Common mistakes: washing <20 seconds, missing finger webs or thumbs, hand sanitizer with <60% alcohol, drying with a dirty cloth.
Hand sanitizer: effective when hands are not visibly dirty; use ≥60% alcohol and let it air-dry (don’t wipe off).