This document provides guidance on when and how to properly wash your hands. It lists 10 situations when hand washing is important: before eating or preparing food, after using the bathroom, after caring for someone who is sick, after blowing your nose or coughing, after touching animals or waste, and after touching surfaces frequently touched by others. It emphasizes washing hands for at least 15 seconds with soap and water, singing "Happy Birthday" twice, and drying thoroughly. Hand sanitizers are suggested as an alternative when soap and water are not available.