WELCOME

Topic

Hand washing

Presented by

Md. Ashik IqbalBSN (RU), RN (BNC)Nursing College Rajshahi

ObjectivesBy the end of this lesson /topic you will be able to:

Identify who should practice hand hygiene? Describe what hand hygiene is? Identify where hand hygiene practice should

take place? Explain why hand hygiene is important? Describe when hand hygiene is to be performed? Describe how to perform hand hygiene using

various steps?

IntroductionHand washing is the single most effective way to

prevent the spread of germs/micro-organism which prevent communicable diseases.It’s easy to learn how to wash your hands and how to stop the spread of infection by washing the germs away. Good hand washing can prevent diseases such as: Shigellosis,E. Coli, Streptococcal Disease, Influenza and the Common Cold.

We can pick-up germs from doorknobs, stair railings or anything that has been touched by others who aren’t good hand washers

 Definition of hand washing

Hand washing or hand hygiene is the act of cleaning one's hands with or without the use of water or another liquid, or with the use of soap for the purpose of removing soil, dirt, and/or micro organisms.

Hand hygiene practicing is not important only for health care Providers, everyone needs to practicing appropriate & effective hand hygiene to prevent spread of micro organisms.

Who should practice hand hygiene

Where should you perform hand hygiene

1. Busy health care providers need access to hand hygiene products where patient or patient environment contact is taking place.

2. Hand hygiene is important in all work settings, including Acute Care, Long Term Care Facilities, Community and Corporate sites.

3. Providing alcohol-based hand rub at the point of care (within arm’s reach) is an important system support to improve hand hygiene

Why do we need to learn about Hand Hygiene

1. Hand hygiene is the most important way to prevent the spread of germs.

2. Hand hygiene helps keep you healthy by reducing the number of germs on your hands and helps reduce the spread of germs to your family, friends, co-workers, patients, residents or clients.

3. Using appropriate hand hygiene prevents contamination of the patient’s, client’s, or resident’s environment.

When do you perform hand hygiene

1. Before initial patient or patient environment contact2. Before aseptic or clean procedures3. After body fluid exposure4. After contact with patient or patient environment.

    How to perform hand hygiene

Proper technique is important when it comes to effective hand hygiene. Without proper hand hygiene technique, we can still spread many micro-organisms with our hands. This section will cover the proper techniques for the following procedures

1. Wet hands under running water2. Apply soap and distribute over hands3. Rub hands together vigorously for 15 seconds to

create a good lather: Palm to palm 4. Rub fingertips of each hand in opposite palm

Continue5. Between and around fingers 6. Rub each thumb clasped in opposite hand 7. Rub back of each hand with opposite palm 8. Rinse hands thoroughly under running water.