Agricultural fairs are family-friendly events typically featuring livestock, farming, and craft exhibits, truck and tractor pulling, rides, and entertainment. Many community fairs offer outdoor food stands – with all my favorite foods, especially the cotton candy!
But as a microbiologist, I also know, how important it is to practice good hand hygiene at key moments during the fair. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provide the following tips for fairgoers:
Wash Hands Often1
- Locate handwashing stations
- Wash your hands right after petting animals, touching the animal enclosure, and exiting animal areas – even if you did not touch an animal
- Wash hands after using the restroom, after playing a game or going on a ride, before eating and drinking, before preparing food or drinks, after changing diapers, and after removing soiled clothes or shoes
- Bring alcohol-based hand sanitizers or disposable wipes in case there aren’t any places to wash your hands
- Wash your hands with soap and clean running water for at least 20 seconds
Enjoy the fair with quick and easy hand hygiene solutions like an alcohol-based hand sanitizer and hand sanitizing wipes so you and your family can quickly and safely enjoy all the finger foods at the fair!
More information is available at CDC.gov.