• 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 bathroom, changing
diapers, or cleaning up a child who
has used the bathroom
• After blowing your nose, coughing,
or sneezing
• After touching an animal, animal food or
treats, animal cages, or animal waste
• After touching garbage

• Before and after visiting a friend or a loved
one in a hospital or nursing home, unless
the person is sick with Clostridium difficile
(if so, use soap and water to wash hands).
• If soap and water are not available, use an
alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains
at least 60% alcohol, and wash with soap
and water as soon as you can.
* Do NOT use hand sanitizer if your hands are visibly
dirty or greasy: for example, after gardening,
playing outdoors, or after fishing or camping
(unless a hand washing station is not available).
Wash your hands with soap and water instead.