CDC Vessle Sanitation Program Keeping Your Hands Clean on a Cruise
Guidance for the public concerning cruise ships and public health
Final
Issued by: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Keeping Your Hands Clean on a Cruise
Factsheet pdf icon[PDF – 165 KB]
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To stay healthy and clean, wash your hands with warm water and soap.
When to wash your hands:
Before:
- Touching your hand to your mouth, including:
- Eating and drinking,
- Smoking, and
- Brushing your teeth.
- Helping a sick person.
After:
- Going to the bathroom.
- Changing diapers.
- Touching high-hand contact surfaces, such as:
- Door knobs,
- Elevator buttons, and
- Railings.
- Returning to your cabin.
- Helping a sick person.
- Blowing your nose.
How to wash your hands:
- Wet your hands with warm water.
- Apply a generous amount of soap.
- Rub your hands together for 20 seconds.
- Rinse your hands.
- Dry your hands with a paper towel.
- Use the paper towel to turn off the faucet and open the door.
What about alcohol-based hand sanitizers?
- CDC recommends that cruise ship passengers use warm water and soap to wash their hands. Washing is always best.
- If water and soap are NOT available (perhaps on excursions), use an ethanol alcohol-based hand sanitizer, preferably in a gel form. The sanitizer should be at least 60% ethanol.
DISCLAIMER: The contents of this database lack the force and effect of law, except as authorized by law (including Medicare Advantage Rate Announcements and Advance Notices) or as specifically incorporated into a contract. The Department may not cite, use, or rely on any guidance that is not posted on the guidance repository, except to establish historical facts.