Download Proper Handwashing

Do you know what germs could be
on your hands?
“Hand washing is the single
most important means of preventing
the spread of infection“
-- US Centers for Disease Control
•The most important thing that you can
do to keep from getting sick is to wash
your hands. By frequently washing your
hands you wash away germs that you
have picked up from other people, or
from contaminated surfaces, or from
animals and animal waste.
•You pick up germs from other sources
and then you infect yourself when you
touch your eyes, or your nose, or your
mouth.
•One of the most common ways people
catch colds is by rubbing their nose or
their eyes after their hands have been
contaminated with the cold virus.
•You can also spread germs directly to
others or onto surfaces that other
people touch. And before you know it,
everybody around you is getting sick.
•The important thing to remember is that, in addition
to colds, some pretty serious diseases -- like
hepatitis A, meningitis, and infectious diarrhea -- can
easily be prevented if people make a habit of
washing their hands.
•You should wash your hands often. Probably more
often than you do now because you can't see us with
the naked eye or smell them, so you do not really
know where we are hiding.
•It is estimated that one out of three
people do not wash their hands after
using the restroom. So these tips are
also important when you are out in
public.
•Washing your hands regularly can
certainly save a lot on medical bills.
Because it costs less than a penny, you
could say that this penny's worth of
prevention can save you a costly visit to
the doctor or maybe even your life!
Wash your hands . . .
•BEFORE and AFTER each client
•AFTER blowing/wiping the nose
•AFTER being around a sick person
•AFTER any cleaning session
•AFTER going to the toilet
•PRIOR to eating meals or snacks
•WHENEVER hands are soiled
•AFTER touching lacerations/cuts,
sores or infected areas on the skin
Wash your hands . . .
•AFTER shaking someone's hand
•AFTER touching garbage
•BEFORE emptying the dishwasher
•AFTER riding on the school bus
•AFTER cleaning up spills
•After handling or playing with pets
•After handling raw meat and poultry
1. Adjust water to a comfortable level
and wet hands. Dispense a small
amount of soap into the palms of the
hands creating a lather.
2.
Using as much friction as needed,
thoroughly clean all surfaces of hands
including between the fingers.
Also clean any exposed areas
of the wrists and forearm.
3. Pay attention to the nails and nail beds
by rubbing the nails of one hand across
the palm of the other, creating enough
friction to clean underneath the nails.
This process should take at least 20
seconds.
4. Rinse the hands under running
water, being sure to hold the
hands in a downward position.
5. Use paper towels or warm air
blower to thoroughly dry the
hands.
6. Using the same paper towel,
turn off the water supply.
7. Use the paper towel again to
open the bathroom door.
Hand Washing Procedure Video