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Handwashing Is The Act of Cleaning One's

Handwashing is the most effective way to reduce disease transmission. It involves wetting hands, applying soap and rubbing for 30 seconds to remove dirt and microorganisms, rinsing thoroughly, and drying from fingers to forearms with paper towels. Following proper handwashing technique helps prevent infection by removing transient microbes and reducing resident flora on the hands.

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Erjen Alexandria Sia
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144 views

Handwashing Is The Act of Cleaning One's

Handwashing is the most effective way to reduce disease transmission. It involves wetting hands, applying soap and rubbing for 30 seconds to remove dirt and microorganisms, rinsing thoroughly, and drying from fingers to forearms with paper towels. Following proper handwashing technique helps prevent infection by removing transient microbes and reducing resident flora on the hands.

Uploaded by

Erjen Alexandria Sia
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Handwashing is the act of cleaning one’s  Rationale: Microorganisms can

hands with the use of any liquid with or lodge in the settings of jewelry and
without soap for the purpose of removing under rings.
dirt or microorganisms. It is the most
effective measure in reducing the risk of 3. Gather the necessary supplies. Stand
transmitting infectious diseases. in front of the sink.
4. Wet the hands and wrist area. Keep
Handwashing is under the umbrella of hand
hands lower than elbows to allow
hygiene. Hand hygiene is defined by the
World Health Organization as a general term water to flow towards the fingertips.
that applies to handwashing, antiseptic  Rationale: Be careful not to splash
handwash, antiseptic hand rub or surgical water into your clothes, it may
hand antisepsis.
result in contamination as moisture
Purposes of hand hygiene are: breeds microorganisms.
 Hand washing can prevent 5. Cover all areas of hands with soap.
infection 6. With firm rubbing and circular
 Avoid pathogenic microorganisms
motions, wash the palms and backs of
and to avoid transmitting them
Types of hand hygiene: the hands, each finger, the knuckles,
 Routine handwash. Use of water wrists, and forearms. Continue this
and non-antimicrobial soap for the friction motion for 30 seconds.
purpose of removing soil and  Rub hands palm to palm;
transient microorganisms.
 Antiseptic handwash. Use of  Right palm over left dorsum
water and antimicrobial soap (e.g., with interlaced fingers and vice
chlorhexidine, iodine and versa;
iodophors, chloroxylenol [PCMX],  Palm to palm with fingers
triclosan) for the purpose of
removing or destroying transient interlaced;
microorganisms and reduce  Backs of fingers to opposing
resident flora. palms with fingers interlocked;
 Antiseptic handrub. Use of  Rotational rubbing of left
alcohol-based handrub.
thumb clasped in right palm
 Surgical antisepsis. Use of water
and antimicrobial soap for the and vice versa;
purpose of removing or destroying  Rotational rubbing, backwards
transient microorganisms and and forwards with clasped
reduce resident flora.
Recommended duration is 2-6 fingers of right hand in left
minutes. palm and vice versa;
Materials or equipment are needed to 7. Rinse thoroughly with water flowing
perform hand washing: towards the fingertips.
 Soap (liquid or bar)
8. Pat hands dry, beginning with the
 Warm running water
 Paper towels fingers and moving upward towards
forearms, with a paper towel and
PROCEDURES: discard immediately.
1. Check that nails are filed short.  Rationale: Contamination is
 Rationale: Short nails are less prevented by drying from the
likely to harbor microorganisms. least to the most contaminated
2. Remove all jewelry or accessories. areas. Drying the skin well
prevents chapping. Blotting
rather than rubbing helps
prevent skin irritation.

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