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Handwashing. Unit 13.2. Typical day at the Hospital. Questions to ask yourself. Why wash your hands? What’s the purpose? When should I wash? What are steps I should remember when washing? How hot should the water be? What kind of soap should I use?. Handwashing.
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Handwashing Unit 13.2
Questions to ask yourself • Why wash your hands? What’s the purpose? • When should I wash? • What are steps I should remember when washing? • How hot should the water be? • What kind of soap should I use?
Handwashing • Is a basic task required in ANY health occupation • An ASEPTIC technique- most important method to control spread of pathogens
2 Purposes of Handwashing • Prevent and control the spread of pathogens from person to person • Protect the health care worker from disease and illness
Appropriate times to wash • Arrival and Exit of facility • Before and After each patient • When hands are contaminated during a procedure • Before and after wearing gloves • Before and after handling specimens • After contact with ANY soiled item • After picking up items from the floor • After use of the bathroom • After cough, sneeze, or use of a tissue • Before/After any contact with your mouth/mucous membrane- ex: eating, smoking, drinking, applying lip balm, contact lenses
Principles of Proper Handwashing- Soap • Use soap as a cleansing agent • Aids in removal of pathogens – sudsy action and alkali content • Pathogens get trapped in soap and rinsed away • Use liquid soap from dispenser over bar soap
Principles of Proper Handwashing- Water • Less damaging to skin than hot water • Creates a better lather with the soap than cold water
Principles of Proper Handwashing • Use friction to help rub off pathogens from skin surface • Clean all surfaces on hands • Point fingers downward • Prevents water on forearm • Water on forearm can run down and contaminate clean hands
Principles of Proper Handwashing • Use dry paper towels to turn faucet on/off • Prevents contamination of hands from pathogens on the faucet • Pathogens travel quickly through a wet towel
Principles of Proper Handwashing- Nails • Nails harbor dirt and pathogens • Clean with blunt end of cuticle stick • Scrub with a brush to remove dirt/pathogens • If brush/stick not available, rub nails against palm of opposite hand
Washy Washy Clean Scrub Scrub