HOW TO HAND WASH - Health Quality & Safety Commission · Hand hygiene is the single most important way to prevent the spread of harmful germs (bacteria and viruses) that can cause

HOW TO HAND WASH

Rinse hands well with water.Rotational rubbing firmly, with closed fingers of right hand in

left palm and vice versa.

Rotational rubbing of left thumb held in right palm

and vice versa.

Backs of fingers to opposing palms with

fingers interlocked.

Palm to palm with fingers linked.

Duration of the entire procedure: about 40-60 sec.

Right palm over back of left with linked fingers and

vice versa.

Wet hands with water and apply enough soap to cover all

hand surfaces.

1.

Rub hands palm to palm, up to and including wrists.

2.

3. 4.

5. 6.

7. 8.

Dry hands with a paper towel.

9.

CLEAN HANDS ARE SAFE HANDSn You can expect excellent hand hygiene

from your healthcare worker.

n It’s ok to remind your healthcare

worker about hand hygiene.

n Clean your hands before you eat and

after using the bathroom.

n Ask your visitors to protect you by

cleaning their hands.

n Please ask for help to clean your own

hands if you are unable to get to

the sink or complete hand hygiene

yourself.

If you see that soap, ABHR or paper towels

are running low or have run out, please

tell a staff member as soon as possible.

For more information about hand hygiene visit

www.handhygiene.org.nz

Developed in partnership with Auckland District Health Board.

Hand hygiene is the single most important way to prevent the spread of harmful germs (bacteria and viruses) that can cause infection.

In hospital you can expect your healthcare workers

(doctors, nurses, healthcare assistants and others) to

perform excellent hand hygiene before, during and after

caring for you.

Healthcare workers should clean their hands:

n Before they touch you.

n After they have touched you, before they leave.

n Directly before and directly after they perform a

procedure on you.

n Aftertheyareexposedtobodyfluids.

n After touching your surroundings (e.g. bed) if none of

the above have occurred.

n Before and after wearing gloves.

IT’S OK TO ASKWe take hand hygiene seriously, however, we are not

perfect and there may be times when we do not clean

our hands as often as we should. If you are worried that a

staffmemberhasnotcleanedhisorherhandsproperlyit

is ok to remind us, in fact, we welcome it.

WHAT YOU CAN DOGerms are present all around us. When we are ill we are

more at risk of developing an infection from harmful

bacteria or viruses that we may pick up, either from

something we have touched or from someone passing

it onto us. The risk of infection being spread from a

healthcare worker’s hands to you is reduced when they

perform correct hand hygiene. In addition, it is important

that you clean your own hands at the following times

while you are in hospital:

n Before eating food.

n After using the bathroom.

n At any time a healthcare worker has advised you to do

so (e.g. caring for your own catheter).

If you have visitors, they can protect you from harmful

germs by cleaning their hands:

n Before they touch you.

n Before they give you food.

n After using the bathroom.

n At any other time a healthcare worker has advised

them to do so (e.g. assisting with your wound

dressings).

THERE ARE TWO WAYS TO CLEAN YOUR HANDS:Soap and water

If your hands are visibly dirty or you have used the

bathroom, please clean your hands with soap and

running water.

Wet your hands, apply the soap, and clean hands and

wrists according to the step-by-step guide in this

leaflet.Pleaseremoveanyjewellery(e.g.rings)from

your hands and clean the space underneath as this

is a place where germs can harbour. Always dry your

hands well.

Alcohol based hand rub (ABHR)

ABHRisveryeffectiveatkillingmostgerms.Evenif

your hands look clean they may still carry bacteria

and viruses that can be harmful to you. A squirt of

ABHR rubbed into hands will dry naturally in about 30

seconds. Visitors can also use the ABHR when they

arrive on the ward and when they leave.

WHAT TO EXPECT WHILE YOU ARE IN OUR CARE

HOW TO CLEAN YOUR HANDS