HAND WASHING GUIDELINES

“Promoting hand hygiene at all levels of health care is also critical"- WHO 2020

What is hand hygiene? Hand hygiene is a way of cleaning one’s hands with or without the use of water or liquid forms (soap) to remove soil, dirt and substantially reduces potential pathogens (harmful microorganisms) on the hands. Hand hygiene is considered a primary measure for reducing the risk of transmitting infection among patients and health care personnel.

Hand hygiene, a very simple action, is well accepted to be one of the primary modes of reducing health care-associated infection and of enhancing patient safety, pandemic, handwashing with soap remains one of our best defenses against the virus, along with other public health measures such as maintaining physical distance, avoiding crowded places, practicing cough etiquette and wearing a mask wherever recommended. Practicing hand hygiene is a simple yet effective way to prevent infections. Cleaning your hands can prevent the spread of germs, including those that are resistant to antibiotics and are becoming difficult, if not impossible, to treat. 

With COVID-19 transmission mainly spreading between people through direct, indirect (through contaminated objects or surfaces), or close contact with infected people via mouth and nose secretions, washing hands with soap and running water is of critical importance. Thus, to stop the spread of COVID-19 the practice of handwashing at regular intervals is a must, after coughing or sneezing, when caring for the sick, after using the toilet, before eating, while preparing food and after handling animals or animal waste. Handwashing after touching common surfaces such as doorknobs or handles, or after one comes back home from visiting a public place will keep ourselves and others around us safe.

Here are a few steps or guidelines can be follow effectively for hand washing:

REFERENCES

Handwashing an effective tool to prevent COVID-19, other diseases (who.int)

Hand Hygiene in Healthcare Settings | CDC