Happy Halloween Huskies! Want to hear something scary? It’s likely you are contracting viruses and spreading germs if you are not washing your hands regularly! Washing your hands is a simple task that is often overlooked and it affects not only your own well-being, but everyone around you. 

Although handwashing may seem trivial, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that it plays a major role in illness prevention and reducing the spread of germs. As college students, we are more social than we used to be, whether that means going to class, communal living, extracurricular activities or even using public restrooms more often than you would at home. Learning how to prevent the spread of illness is important for students, for they need to be able to perform at their very best mentally, physically, socially and academically. 

The CDC recommends five easy steps to take when washing your hands: wet, lather, scrub, rinse and dry. First, wet your hands with clean, warm water. Next, lather your hands with soap. Do not forget the backs of your hands, between your fingers and under your nails. After that, scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Up next is rinsing. Rinse your hands under clean, running water. Finally, dry your hands using a clean towel or give them a good shake.

For more information on handwashing, illness prevention or other health and wellness issues that affect college students, contact Kristi Hammaker, BU Health and Wellness Educator, at [email protected]. 

You can also find us on Instagram at @BUHealthy, Twitter at @BUHealthyHusky, and Facebook at BU Healthy Husky, for quick tips and details about upcoming events.