Hand washing is required
Before patient contact
Between contact with different patients
After contact with anything contaminated
During patient care (per procedures)
- before and after invasive procedure
- before and after contact with wound
- between procedures on different body parts of the same patient
Between glove changes
Immediately, if skin is contaminated or an injury occurs
Before Hand washing remember to
- Remove all wrist and hand jewelry, cover cuts and abrasions with water proof dressing
- Avoid long nails, Artificial nails, or Nail varnish
- Wash wrist and elbows if they are also contaminated
- Role your sleeves properly to avoid soiling with water
Three stages of Hand Washing
Preparation ( wet hands under running tap water)
Washing and rinsing ( apply soap (liquid) allow it to come in contact with all hand surfaces, rub hands together for a minimum of 10-15 seconds, particular attention to finger tips, thumbs & areas between fingers.
Ideal method
- Rub Palm to palm
- Right Palm over left dorsum and left palm over right dorsum
- Palm to palm with fingers interlaced
- Back of the fingers to opposing palms with fingers interlocked
- Rotational rubbing of right thumb clasped in left palm and vice versa
- Rotational rubbing backwards and forwards with clasped fingers of right hand in left palm and voice versa
Drying (Thoroughly with good quality paper towel)
Close the tap using a dry paper towel, don’t use your hands in any case.
