11/13/24, 7\:20 PM Guide | Hand washing

Hand washing

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When to wash your hands

The 5 moments of hand hygiene approach describes the key points at which healthcare workers should perform hand
hygiene\:
1. Before touching a patient.
2. Before clean/aseptic procedures.
3. After body
4. After touching a patient.
5. After touching patient surroundings.

Alcohol hand rub

You should clean your hands using an alcohol-based formulation if your hands are not visibly soiled.
The entire process of hand washing with alcohol-based formulations should take around 20-30 seconds.
The bene
Faster to clean your hands
More e
Better tolerated by the skin on your hands
Limitations of alcohol-based formulations\:
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Not e
Not e

Step-by-step guide

1. Apply a palmful of alcohol hand rub into your cupped hand.
2. Rub your hands together palm to palm.
3. Rub your right palm over the dorsum of your left hand, with your
4. Rub your hands together, palm to palm, with your
5. Rub the backs of your
6. Place your left thumb in your clasped right palm and rotationally rub the thumb, then repeat using your right thumb and
clasped left palm.
7. Rotationally rub the clasped
8. Allow your hands to dry completely.
Apply a palmful of alcohol gel into a cupped hand

Soap and water

The entire process of hand washing with soap and water should take around 40-60 seconds.
You should wash your hands with soap and water if\:
They are visibly soiled with blood or bodily
You suspect you have come into contact with spore-forming organisms (e.g. C.di
You have just been to the toilet.

Step-by-step guide

1. Wet your hands with water from a running tap.
2. Apply enough soap to cover all hand surfaces.
3. Rub your hands together palm to palm.
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4. Rub your right palm over the dorsum of your left hand, with your
5. Rub your hands together, palm to palm, with your
6. Rub the backs of your
7. Place your left thumb in your clasped right palm and rotationally rub the thumb, then repeat using your right thumb and
clasped left palm.
8. Rotationally rub the clasped
9. Rinse your hands with water from the running tap.
10. Dry your hands thoroughly with a single-use paper towel.
11. Use the paper towel to turn o

References

1. WHO Guidelines On Hand Hygiene In Health Care. 1st ed. Geneva\: World Health Organization, 2009. Available from [LINK].
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