Hand hygiene

That's basic, same before meals as a minimum. This was drummed into me by my father when I was a toddler.

We were in a restaurant in France many years ago.
Open kitchen and one toilet that everyone shared.
The chef went to the loo then came out and carried on cooking.
My husband went to the loo then came back to the table and said we were leaving.
There wasn't a washbasin in the cubicle or anywhere near .... ?

Mind you, the number of public loos that I have had to visit that only has cold water which makes it pretty pointless and just as bad, hot air hand dryers that you have to wave your hand under and hope they switch on, that then don't!
I always have tissues to hand to dry my hands properly - walking out with damp hands - bugs survive on damp skin .

It's common decency and basic hygiene to wash hands before/after handling food, before/after eating, after using the toilet, after smoking, after sneezing, coughing or blowing your nose, after handling any kind of waste, etc.

I worked in the care sector for 20 years, and it was something we all did, as well as using disposable gloves.

My grandson (aged 3) and I were washing our hands after picking him up from nursery. I started singing 'Happy Birthday'. "It's not my birthday," he said. On the second rendition he started to cry. "Me got no presents for my birthday," he wailed. It took me ages to try to explain. I'm going to have to use another song - any ideas?

What about "This is the way we wash our hands....."Lyndiloo? Supplement a few of the words to things he will understand........simple.

I was in the deli queue at the supermarket recently. Just a nano second before e Assistant asked me what I wanted she put her finger in her ear and had a good poke around; " What can I get you?" she said, I responded quite loudly so those behind me heard " Nothing thanks, I've changed my mind since I saw you scratching your ear hole "!!!!! Oh boy, did she blush!

"If you're happy and you know it wash your hands" would work for a toddler.

We were in a restaurant for lunch while away for a few days some months ago. One of the waiters gave a huge sneeze into his hand. I fully expected to see him wipe his hand down his apron and carry on, but was most impressed when he not only went to a sink and had a thorough wash, but also used sanitizer after.

I often leave a public loo without washing my hands.... as soon as I have left and touched the final door handle the sanitizer comes out though.
I just hate touching doors that may be contaminated.

I agree - it's something that was drummed into me as a child and something I do as a matter of course in the NHS.

However, I'm slightly perplexed as to how we're supposed to practice hand hygiene if we don't have ready access to soap and water given there's now a national shortage of hand gel?

I often leave a public loo without washing my hands

Why??? Hand sanitizer is better than nothing, but hand washing with soap and hot water is far better. You know you can do both?

SirChenjin, I very often do both but sometimes it’s so grubby and dire I just get out quick.

Sorry - it's just you said you often leave a public loo without washing your hands so I took from that it was a very regular occurence.

I would urge anyone using public loos to use soap and water and wash your hands properly according to guidelines, both for your sake and everyone else using the loos.