Handwashing

All Radford University students, faculty, and staff are strongly encouraged to engage in good hygiene practices to ensure the health, safety, and well-being of the campus community due to the COVID-19 global health pandemic. One of the most critical elements of good hygiene is regular handwashing.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), handwashing is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of germs. Clean hands can stop germs from spreading from one person to another and throughout an entire community.

Individuals are encouraged to follow these five steps every time:

1. Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap;

2. Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails;

3. Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds;

4. Rinse your hands well under clean, running water; and

5. Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dryer.

Due to COVID-19, handwashing is critically important at the following times:

1. After you have been in a public place and touched an item or surface that may be frequently touched by other people, such as door handles, tables, gas pumps, shopping carts, or electronic cashier registers/screens, etc.; and

2. Before touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.

The CDC also encourages individuals to utilize an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available. As such, the University has installed hand sanitizer stations. Students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to utilize these stations as necessary and appropriate.

For detailed information from the CDC regarding handwashing, visit https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/index.html. Additional information about hand hygiene is available from the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) at https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/haiar/infection-prevention/standard-precautions/hand-hygiene/.