According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “Keeping hands clean through improved hand hygiene is one of the most important steps one can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others. Many diseases and conditions are spread by not washing hands with soap and clean, running water.”
The following hand hygiene recommendations are from the CDC to prevent the spread of infection whether working in a hospital environment or ambulatory care setting:
Health care providers should practice good hand hygiene when caring for patients to disrupt the transmission of microorganisms/germs including:
- Before and after patient contact;
- After contact with blood, body fluids, or contaminated surfaces (even if gloves are worn);
- Before, during, and after invasive and noninvasive procedures;
- After gloves are removed (wearing gloves is not enough to prevent the transmission of pathogens).
According to the CDC, this is the correct way to wash your hands:
- Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold) and apply soap.
- Rub your hands together to make a lather and scrub them well; be sure to scrub the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
- Continue rubbing your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice.
- Rinse your hands well under running water.
- Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.
What if there is no soap and clean, running water?
If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers can quickly reduce the number of germs on hands in some situations, but sanitizers do not eliminate all types of germs. Also note that hand sanitizers are not as effective when hands are visibly dirty. The correct way to use hand sanitizers:
- Apply the product to the palm of one hand.
- Rub your hands together.
- Rub the product over all surfaces of your hands and fingers until your hands are dry.
Author Sue Jones, BA, LVN, CPHRM, is a Senior Risk Management & Patient Safety Specialist at the Cooperative of American Physicians, Inc. (CAP).
If you have questions about this article, please contact us. This information should not be considered legal advice applicable to a specific situation. Legal guidance for individual matters should be obtained from a retained attorney.