Do you wash your hands the NHS way?

May 31, 2020

Washing your hands is an essential part of infection prevention and control. All colleagues must wash their hands or use hand sanitiser on entering and exiting clinical areas.

Clinical colleagues are reminded of the five moments of handwashing:

1. Before touching a patient
2. Before clean/aseptic procedures
3. After body fluid exposure/risk
4. After body fluid exposure/risk
5. After touching a patient

Washing your hands is one of the simplest ways you can protect yourself and others from illnesses. Washing your hands properly removes dirt, viruses and bacteria to stop them from spreading to other people and objects, which can spread illnesses. It can also help stop people from picking up infections and spreading them to others.

As we all try to navigate life with the threat of COVID-19 we’ve highlighted some easy to follow steps to ensure your hands are squeaky clean:

• Wet your hands with water
• Apply enough soap or hand wash to cover your hands
• Rub your hands together
• Use one hand to rub the back of the other hand and clean in between the fingers. Do the same with the other hand
• Rub your hands together and clean in between your fingers
• Rub the back of your fingers against your palms
• Rub your thumb using your other hand. Do the same with the other thumb
• Rub the tips of your fingers on the palm of your other hand. Do the same with other hand
• Rinse your hands with water
• Dry your hands completely with a disposable towel where possible
• Use the disposable towel to turn off the tap.