Hand washing – primary disease transmission prevention

 

10 Steps to Successful Handwashing

 

1. Turn on warm water

2. Wet hands thoroughly

3. Squirt soap into palm

4. Rubbing hands together, lather

5. Soap palms, backs of hands, between fingers, under fingernails and wrists

6. Rinse hands removing all soap residue

7. Take paper towel

8. Use paper towel to dry hands

9. Use paper towel to turn off tap

10. Use paper towel to open restroom door

 

• Hand hygiene refers to removing or killing microorganisms (germs) on the hands.
• Hand hygiene, when performed correctly is the single most effective method of preventing the spread of infection.
• This practice eliminates transient microorganisms picked up via contact with patients, contaminated equipment, surfaces or the environment.
• Today we are seeing a re-emergence of bacterial strains and superbugs for which antibiotics are not effective.
• Hand washing key prevention of pathogen transmission

 

CHICA (2008).The rational for hand hygiene. Community and Hosptial Infection Control Associated Canada. Retrived from http://www.chica.org/links_handhygiene.html.