The Importance of Handwashing

When the air grows colder and flu season sets in, something as simple as handwashing can make a big difference. Regular, proper hand hygiene is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of communicable diseases — especially during the winter months, when respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses climb. At Antelope Valley Medical Center (AVMC), we believe in empowering patients, families, and community members with the facts and tools they need to stay healthy. Here’s why handwashing matters, what the statistics show for winter illnesses, and how you can protect yourself and others.

Why Handwashing Matters Year-Round

Washing your hands with soap and clean, running water (or using a 60%+ alcohol-based sanitizer when soap isn’t available) helps remove germs — bacteria and viruses — that you pick up from contaminated surfaces, from touching your face, or from contact with others. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), handwashing can prevent many kinds of respiratory and diarrheal infections. 

Some of the key reasons handwashing is so powerful:

• It interrupts transmission of germs before they enter your body via mouth, nose, or eyes.

• It reduces “secondary spread” — meaning you not only protect yourself but others around you.

• It lowers the risk of needing medical care, which is especially important during peaks in illness when healthcare systems are under more strain.

Winter and the Rise of Communicable Diseases

Winter brings conditions that help viruses and bacteria spread more easily:

• Respiratory diseases such as influenza, common colds, and sometimes severe respiratory infections increase sharply during cold months. Less humidity and more indoor crowding mean viruses linger on surfaces, in the air, and spread person-to-person more readily.

• Gastrointestinal illnesses (stomach bugs) are more common when people gather indoors, share food, touch shared surfaces, or don’t wash hands properly. Viruses like norovirus are notorious for spreading in such settings.

Here are some statistics that underscore the winter risk:

• A case–control study found that improved handwashing habits greatly reduced the risk of influenza infection. In that study, individuals with higher “hand-washing scores” had significantly lower odds of getting flu. 

• Another survey published by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) reported that handwashing with soap and water for 20 seconds helps prevent spread of diseases such as flu, COVID-19, and norovirus. The survey also found that many adults still miss key handwashing moments.

• According to Hendrick Health, good hand hygiene during winter can reduce illness incidence by 23–40%. 

These numbers show that handwashing isn’t just good advice — it’s a public health tool that can meaningfully reduce sickness.

How to Wash Hands Effectively

It’s not just that you wash your hands — it’s how you do it. Here are best practices:

1. Use warm or cold running water — it doesn’t need to be hot. The key is running water to rinse away germs. 

2. Lather thoroughly with soap — don’t forget backs of hands, between fingers, and under nails.

3. Scrub for at least 20 seconds — humming “Happy Birthday” twice is a simple timer.

4. Rinse well under clean running water.

5. Dry completely using a clean towel or air dryer. Wet hands can transfer germs more easily.

And when soap and water aren’t available, use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Be sure to cover all surfaces of your hands and rub until dry.

Common Barriers & Misunderstandings

It’s helpful to know what keeps people from washing their hands when they should:

• Forgetting or being in a hurry, especially in public or during rushed routines. 

• Believing it “isn’t necessary” after certain tasks, even though germs may still be present.

• Concern about dry or irritated skin, which may be more common in winter.

Recognizing these barriers is the first step toward changing habits.

How AVMC Supports Healthy Hand Hygiene

At Antelope Valley Medical Center, we take hand hygiene seriously—both in our facility and in community education:

• Patient and visitor education: We provide resources and reminders about proper handwashing — when and how.

• Clinical protocols: In hospital settings, our staff follow strict hand hygiene guidelines to protect vulnerable patients, especially during flu season.

• Access to hygiene tools: Soap, running water, and sanitizers are made available throughout our facility, including high-traffic areas.

• Preventive health services: Alongside vaccination and respiratory illness prevention programs, handwashing is a key component of our strategy to reduce disease.

Our goal is to help every patient and visitor leave healthier than when they arrived.

Tips for Staying Healthy This Winter

To keep your hands — and you — as safe as possible through the winter months, consider these additional tips:

• Wash your hands after being out in public, especially after touching surfaces like door handles, shopping carts, or transit rails.

• Always wash before eating or preparing food, after using the restroom, after coughing/sneezing (or blowing your nose), and when caring for someone ill.

• Keep a small hand sanitizer on you for times when soap and water aren’t nearby.

• Moisturize your hands regularly to prevent cracking or irritation, which can make hand hygiene harder.

• Encourage good handwashing habits in children—make it fun and consistent.

Antelope Valley Medical Center Is Here to Protect Your Health

When flu season, colds, and gastrointestinal illnesses surge in winter, handwashing remains one of the easiest, most effective defenses available. It significantly reduces the risk of disease spread, lowers strain on healthcare systems, and protects the most vulnerable among us.

At Antelope Valley Medical Center, we are committed to promoting and practicing strong hand hygiene. By following simple habits—and understanding why they matter—you help protect yourself, your loved ones, and our wider community.

Remember: clean hands save lives. Call 661-949-5000 for more health information or request an appointment online.