Hygiene & Handwashing

Good basic personal hygiene and handwashing are critical to help prevent the spread of illness and disease. Clean, safe running water is essential for proper hygiene and handwashing.

Hygiene is especially important in an emergency such as a flood, hurricane, or earthquake, but finding clean, safe running water can sometimes be difficult. The following information will help to ensure good hygiene and handwashing in the event of an emergency.

Disaster Supplies Kit (Hygiene Supplies)

Before an emergency, make sure you have created a Disaster Supplies Kit. The CDC and the American Red Cross have prepared a shopping list of emergency water, hygiene, and sanitation supplies that should be contained in your kit.

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Handwashing

Keeping hands clean during an emergency helps prevent the spread of germs. If your tap water is not safe to use, wash your hands with soap and water that has been boiled or disinfected. Follow these steps to make sure you wash your hands properly:

• Wet your hands with clean running water and apply soap. Use warm water if it is available.
• Rub hands together to make a lather and scrub all surfaces.
• Continue rubbing hands for 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the "Happy Birthday" song from beginning to end twice.
• Rinse hands well under running water.
• Dry your hands using a paper towel or air dryer. If possible, use your paper towel to turn off the faucet.

A temporary Handwashing Station [PDF - 1 page] can be created by using a large water jug that contains clean water (for example, boiled or disinfected).

Keeping hands clean through improved hand hygiene is one of the most important steps we can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others. Many diseases and conditions are spread by not washing hands with soap and clean, running water. If clean, running water is not accessible, as is common in many parts of the world, use soap and available water. If soap and water are unavailable, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol to clean hands.

When to Wash Hands

Wash hands with soap and clean, running water (if available):

• Before, during, and after preparing food
• Before eating food
• Before and after caring for someone who is sick
• Before and after treating a cut or wound
• After using the toilet
• After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet
• After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
• After touching an animal or animal waste
• After handling pet food or pet treats
• After touching garbage

Other Hand Hygiene Resources

• Food and Water Safety and Hand Hygiene Resources
• Handwashing: Clean Hands Save Lives

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Do not use contaminated water to wash dishes, brush your teeth, wash and prepare food, or make ice.

Bathing

Bathing after a water-related emergency should only be done with clean, safe water. Listen to local authorities for further instructions. Sometimes water that is not safe to drink can be used for bathing.

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Dental Hygiene

Brushing your teeth after a water-related emergency should only be done with clean, safe water. Listen to local authorities to find out if tap water is safe to use.

Visit the Safe Drinking Water for Personal Use page for more information about making your water safe for brushing your teeth. You may visit CDC’s Oral Health page for complete dental hygiene information.

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Wound Care

Keeping wounds clean and covered is crucial during an emergency. If you have open cuts or sores, keep them as clean as possible by washing well with soap and clean, safe water to control infection. If a wound develops redness, swelling, or drainage, seek immediate medical attention.

When providing first aid for a wound, clean hands can help prevent infection. Visit Emergency Wound Care After a Natural Disaster to find complete information on caring for wounds.

Healthcare professionals should visit Emergency Wound Management for Healthcare Professionals and Management of Vibrio vulnificus Wound Infections After a Disaster.

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Additional Hygiene Information

• Cleaning and Sanitizing With Bleach After a Disaster or Emergency
  (Information on how to keep surfaces clean to avoid the spread of germs)
• Flood Waters or Standing Waters
  (Steps to protect yourself and your family from potentially-contaminated flood water)
• Guidelines for the Management of Acute Diarrhea (for Healthcare Providers) [PDF - 133 kb]
  (Acute diarrhea may occur in post-disaster situations where access to electricity, clean water, and sanitary facilities is limited)
• Other Water-Related Emergency Information and Resources
  (CDC’s website dedicated to water needs before, during, and after disasters and emergencies)