Bulletin #6 – Hand Hygiene
Things you should know about…HAND HYGIENE
Why clean your hands?
- To prevent the spread of harmful germs
- To protect yourself from harmful germs
- To protect the residents and the environment against germs carried on your hands, clothes or present on your skin
Hand rubbing with an alcohol-based formulation is preferable when hands are not visibly soiled because it is easier, faster and more effective. You should wash your hands with soap and water when hands are visibly soiled.
When should hand hygiene be performed?
- Before initial contact with resident or before contact with resident’s environment
- Before putting on and after taking off gloves
- After body fluid exposure
- After contact with resident or after contact with resident’s environment
- Before preparing, handling, serving food
- After your own personal body functions
- Whenever a health care provider is in doubt about the necessity of doing so
Technique matters!
- Apply enough alcohol hand rub to wet hands
- Rub all parts of the hands with an alcohol hand rub, or soap and running water
- Pay special attention to fingertips, between fingers, backs of hands and the base of the thumbs and around the wrists
- Clean hands for at least 15 seconds (Sing Happy Birthday!)
- Dry hands thoroughly
- Apply lotion to hands frequently
Hand Hygiene is the single most effective way of stopping the spread of infection
