Hand Hygiene

✍️Bacteria and viruses are easily transmitted through most everything you touch. It’s pretty impossible to avoid introducing microscopic particles that’ll attack your immune system into your body on a daily basis. That’s why your best line of defense is hand hygiene.

 

✍️Hand hygiene is among the components of Infection Prevention and Control.

Hand hygiene is classified into:

📌Hand washing with Soap

📌Alcohol Based-handrub

Covid-19 Preparedness and Sensitization in Open air

📝WHEN SHOULD I WASH MY HANDS

Routinely wash hands in the following situations:

1️⃣before, during, and after cooking, especially when handling chicken, beef, pork, eggs, fish, or seafood

2️⃣after changing a child’s diaper or helping them with toilet training

3️⃣after using the bathroom

4️⃣after caring for your pet, including feeding, walking, and petting

5️⃣after sneezing, blowing your nose, or coughing

6️⃣before and after administering first aid, including treating your own cut or wound

before and after eating

7️⃣after handling garbage, recycling, and taking out the trash

NB: Health Care Providers Don't Forget of 5-Moments of Handhygiene in addition to above other moments.

✍️The recommended guidelines are to scrub your hands for a minimum of 20 seconds. Rushing the process can result in cross contamination and increased sickness.

📝PROPER HANDWASHING STEPS

Here’s how to wash your hands effectively to stop the spread of germs:

Step 1️⃣: Wet Hands

Wet your hands and apply enough liquid soap to create a good lather. A lot of people reach for soap as the first step, but wetting your hands first produces a better lather for cleaning. If possible make temperature of the water be between 35ºC and 45ºC.

Step 2️⃣: Rub Palms Together

Rub your hands palm to palm in circular motions. Rotate clockwise and anticlockwise.

Step 3️⃣: Rub the Back of Hands

With your fingers linked through the other hand, use your right palm to rub the back of your left hand. Then swap.

Step 4️⃣: Interlink Your Fingers

Link your fingers together, facing each other, into clasped hands. Then rub your palms and fingers together.

Step 5️⃣: Cup Your Fingers

Cup your fingers together, with your right hand over and your left hand under. With your fingers interlocked, rub the backs of them against your palms. Then swap.

Step 6️⃣: Clean the Thumbs

Enclose your right hand around your left thumb and rub as you rotate it, then swap.

Step 7️⃣: Rub Palms with Your Fingers

Rub your fingers over your left palm in a circular motion, then swap.

NOTE: Once you’ve followed these hand washing steps, you should then thoroughly rinse with warm running water and dry with a clean, disposable paper towel. Paper towels are the most hygienic way to dry your hands, but automatic hand dryers may also be used in your workplace. 

#NurseOtieno #TheNurse #WashHands #BeCovidFree