Why We Wash Our Hands: The Germs You Can't See

Right now, tiny living things called germs could be sitting on your hands. Germs are so small that about 1,000 of them could fit on the head of a pin! You cannot see even one germ without a special tool called a microscope. Some germs are harmless, but others can make your tummy hurt or make you cough. The good news is that one simple habit — washing your hands the right way — washes most of them away.

In this lesson, you will: - Learn what a germ is - Learn why germs can make us feel sick - Learn the right way to wash your hands - Learn when during the day you should wash your hands

A germ is a tiny living thing, way too small to see, that can live on your hands, on doorknobs, on toys, and on lots of things you touch every day. Some germs are called viruses and some are called bacteria. When certain germs get inside your body, they can make you feel sick, like giving you a cough, a fever, or a tummy ache.

Here is how to wash germs away: wet your hands with water, add soap, and scrub every part — palms, the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and even your thumbs and under your nails. Keep scrubbing for about 20 seconds, which is about how long it takes to sing 'Happy Birthday' two whole times. Then rinse with water and dry with a clean towel. Soap does not poison germs — instead, it grabs onto the greasy germs so that when you rinse with water, the germs slide right off your skin.

You should wash your hands before you eat, after you use the bathroom, after you play outside or pet an animal, after you cough or sneeze, and after you get off the school bus or leave the playground. Washing at these times stops germs from getting from your hands into your mouth, nose, or a cut on your skin.