Germs and handwashing — Health, 7–10 years
Germs are tiny living things that can travel from one person or place to another. Washing your hands properly helps stop many of them reaching your mouth, nose or eyes.
What germs are
Germs are tiny living things, or particles from them, that we cannot usually see. Some are harmless, but others can make us ill when they enter our body, often through our hands, food or droplets.
Why wash your hands?
Hands touch door handles, animals, soil and our faces, so they can collect germs without feeling dirty. Soap and running water lift many germs away before they can reach our mouth, nose or eyes.
A proper handwash
After stroking a dog, wet your hands, add soap and rub palms, backs, between fingers and under nails for about 20 seconds. Rinse under running water, then dry them with a clean towel.
The easy-to-miss parts
A quick splash of water can make hands look fresh, so it feels as if the job is done. But germs can remain between fingers, around thumbs and under nails; rubbing with soap is what helps remove them.
Where it helps
Handwashing matters before eating, after using the toilet, after coughing or sneezing, and after touching animals or rubbish. It protects you and also reduces the chance of passing germs to other people.
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