Personal hygiene is the first step to improving an individual's physical and emotional well-being. Here are some helpful tips on how you can maintain and improve your personal hygiene. 1
Personal Hygiene 2 Wash hands properly Washing hands thoroughly with liquid soap for at least 20 seconds can effectively prevent contracting and spreading communicable diseases. When should we wash our hands? Immediately after going to the toilet. Before handling food or eating. After changing nappies. After handling articles soiled by faeces, respiratory or other bodily secretions. Before and after visiting hospitals or residential care homes. After making contact with animals or poultry. Viruses and bacteria can enter the body easily through the eyes, mouth and mucous membrane of the nose. So, always remember to wash hands before touching the eyes, nose and mouth. Wash hands after touching public installations or equipment, such as escalator handrails, elevator control panels or door knobs, which are commonly used by many people and can easily gather germs. 3
Personal Hygiene Always carry a handkerchief or some tissue paper. Cover your nose and mouth with it when sneezing or coughing. Wash hands immediately afterwards to avoid spreading germs via respiratory droplets. Towels should never be shared. Personal towels to be reused must be stored properly and washed thoroughly at least once daily. It is even better to have more than one towel for frequent replacement. Keep the toilet rim clean. Flush the toilet and wash hands after using the toilet. Keep it clean for your benefit and the benefit of others. Wash hands with liquid soap, then dry with a clean towel/tissue paper or a hand dryer. Do not use communal towels. Be considerate. Do not make the floor wet when washing your hands or discard used tissue paper outside the bin. Use alcohol-based handrub. When hands are not visibly soiled, 70-80% alcohol-based handrub is also effective for disinfection. Apply a palmful of alcohol-based handrub and cover all surfaces of the hands. Rub the palms, back of hands, between fingers, back of fingers, thumbs, finger tips and wrists for at least 20 seconds until the hands are dry. 4 5
Personal Hygiene Wash hands properly Hand washing, done correctly, is an important personal hygiene practice to prevent the spread of communicable diseases. Many diseases can be spread easily if hands soiled with faecal matter or respiratory discharges are not properly washed. 3.1 2 1 Apply liquid soap and rub hands together to make a soapy lather. Wet hands under running water. Away from the running water, rub the palms, back of hands, between fingers, back of fingers, thumbs, finger tips and wrists. Do this for at least 20 seconds. 5 6 Avoid direct contact between clean hands and the taps. Dry hands thoroughly with either a clean towel, a paper towel or a hand dryer. 4 Rinse hands thoroughly under running water. 3.2 3.3 6 7
Observe good food hygiene Prevent germs in saliva from contaminating food Use serving chopsticks and spoons at meal times. Do not share lunch boxes and drinks. Be considerate Do not drop food scraps and litter in public places. Be civic-minded. Don t eat dirty food Do not eat at unlicensed food stalls or unclean food premises. Do not purchase pre-packaged food that does not have proper labeling, has passed its expiry date or is in a damaged package. Do not buy uncovered food or food that has been stored at room temperature for some time. Do not eat food that looks, smells or tastes abnormal or could be contaminated. 8 9
Personal Hygiene Clean up when you return home Dirt or germs can be found everywhere in the street, or on objects that you come into contact with outside. When you come home : Wash hands and face immediately. Wash clothes or air them in a well-ventilated place for at least one day to clear away dirt and germs. Clean shoes and put them in a well-ventilated place. Wash hands immediately afterwards. 10 11
Personal Hygiene Seek medical help if you feel unwell Protect yourself and prevent others from contracting diseases Consult a doctor promptly if you feel unwell. Wear a face mask if you have symptoms of a respiratory tract infection. If you have a fever, do not go to school or work. Wear a mask when visiting hospitals or clinics. When you arrive home, take a bath and wash your hair. 12 13
Personal Hygiene Adopt a healthy lifestyle Do not smoke or drink too much alcohol. Exercise regularly and maintain a healthy, balanced diet. Get plenty of rest. Do not share personal items. Do not spit or litter. Offenders are liable to a heavy penalty. 14 15
Environmental hygiene and health are closely related. We all want to live in a clean, hygienic and safe environment. Hygiene is equally important in private and public places. Both the users and management of these areas are responsible for keeping the environment clean. Hong Kong is our home. We all benefit by keeping our city clean. 16 17
Home & Environmental Hygiene Ensure good ventilation Keep windows open to maintain good indoor ventilation. Switch on fans or exhaust fans to enhance air flow. Wash dust filters of air-conditioners frequently and check for drips from air-conditioners. Create a smoke-free environment for work, rest and play. 18 19
Home & Environmental Hygiene 20 Keep your home clean Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces, furniture, toys, utensils, toilet, bath room and floor at least daily by using appropriate disinfectant (e.g. 1 part of 5.25% household bleach in 99 parts of water for non-metallic surface or 70% alcohol for metallic surface), wait until dry and then rinse with water. If places/utensils/clothes are contaminated by respiratory secretions, vomitus or excreta, use disposable towels to wipe them away. Then disinfect the surface and the neighbouring area with appropriate disinfectant (e.g. 1 part of 5.25% household bleach in 49 parts of water for non-metallic surface or 70% alcohol for metallic surface), leave for 15-30 minutes, and then rinse with water. Clean the floor regularly and increase the frequency as the circumstances required, and keep it dry. Carpets should be kept clean by daily vacuum cleaning and regular washing. Clean and change bed sheets, pillow cases, towels and clothes regularly. If pets (such as cats and dogs) are kept, increase the frequency of cleansing. 21
Home & Environmental Hygiene Make sure that common facilities such as staircases, lifts, lobbies, refuse collection chambers, canopies and ventilation fans are cleaned, disinfected and maintained regularly. 22 23
Home & Environmental Hygiene Pay attention to food hygiene Keep the kitchen clean. Wash the exhaust fan and range hood regularly. Store eating utensils in a clean cupboard. Store food in covered containers or the refrigerator. To avoid crosscontamination, store cooked food in the upper compartment of the refrigerator and raw food in the lower compartment. Prepare raw food and cooked food separately, using separate knives and chopping boards for each to avoid cross-contamination. Cook meat thoroughly before eating. A high temperature can kill germs. Leftovers should be stored properly in refrigerators (4 C or below) and thoroughly reheated to 75 C or above before being served again. Make sure the refrigerator is clean and works well. Clean it once a week. 24 25
Home & Environmental Hygiene Maintain proper function of toilets, drains and pipes Clean toilets daily with a diluted household bleach solution (1 in 99). At home, make sure there is liquid soap and a clean towel in the toilet to wash hands. For public toilets, liquid soap and disposable towels or hand dryers should be made available. Pour water into drain outlets regularly to prevent foul air and insects in the sewage pipe from entering the premises. Make sure drains and pipes do not leak or are not blocked. Do not alter them without prior authorisation. 26 27
Home & Environmental Hygiene Do not litter Wrap up rubbish properly before putting it in a bin with a well-fitting lid. Empty the bin once a day. Dispose of refuse such as paper, plastic bottles and cans separately into appropriate collection bins to ease environmental pollution. Be considerate. Do not litter or spit. Put litter in a rubbish bin. Take your dog to dog parks regularly. Do not let it foul public places. Always clean up its mess and place in a dog excreta collection bin. Wash hands after handling refuse. 28 29
Home & Environmental Hygiene Prevent pest and rodent infestation - - To prevent mosquito breeding: - Change water for flowers and plants at least once a week, and do not leave water in trays or plates underneath the flowerpots. Spray insecticides into drain outlets of sewage pipes to prevent pest and ant breeding. For proper use and storage of insecticides, follow the instructions on the package to avoid excessive inhalation of chemicals and prevent environmental pollution. Wash your hands and face after use. - Fill up uneven ground surfaces to prevent accumulation of stagnant water. Trim shrubs and keep flowerbeds clean and tidy to prevent rodent infestation. Clear up refuse or disused articles at home or in common areas of buildings. 1823 Report rubbish black spots and stagnant water at construction sites by calling 1823 30 31
Let's join hands to create a healthy and hygienic environment in Hong Kong Department of Health 24-hour Health Education Hotline 2833 0111 Department of Health Websites www.chp.gov.hk www.cheu.gov.hk www.dh.gov.hk Food and Environmental Hygiene Department Website www.fehd.gov.hk 32
Food and Health Bureau Department of Health Jointly published by the Food and Health Bureau the Department of Health and the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department Printed by the Government Logistics Department 06/2015