Hand Washing | Return Demonstration

Summary

In this instructional video, Shekaina Aquino Maranga demonstrates proper hand-washing techniques essential for preventing infections in healthcare settings. The procedure emphasizes the importance of using the right equipment, such as antimicrobial soap and paper towels, and highlights crucial steps like avoiding contamination from the sink and uniform. Key actions include rubbing the back of the hands, interlocking fingers, and paying special attention to the thumbs and wrists. The demonstration stresses careful drying and the use of paper towels to avoid touching contaminated surfaces, reinforcing the importance of following the five moments of hand hygiene.

Takeaways

• 😀 Hand hygiene is a primary measure to prevent infections and healthcare-associated infections.
• 😀 Ensure that all equipment, such as a sink, antimicrobial soap, and paper towels, are prepared before beginning the hand-washing procedure.
• 😀 Avoid touching the sink, as it is a contaminated area, and ensure that your uniform does not come into contact with it.
• 😀 Remove all jewelry before washing hands, as microorganisms can lodge in the settings of rings and wristwatches.
• 😀 Wet hands and wrists under running water, ensuring fingers point downward to allow water to flow from the least to the most contaminated area.
• 😀 Check for any cuts, abrasions, or lesions on the hands and forearms before starting the hand-washing process.
• 😀 Apply a sufficient amount of antimicrobial soap and lather hands thoroughly by rubbing them in a circular motion.
• 😀 Rub the back of each hand with fingers interlaced, ensuring that all surfaces of the hands are cleansed.
• 😀 Pay special attention to the thumb, rubbing it in a rotational manner to loosen dirt and microorganisms.
• 😀 After rinsing hands, dry them with paper towels, starting from the fingertips to the wrist, and discard the towels properly to avoid recontaminating hands.

Q & A

Why is hand hygiene considered the most important procedure in preventing healthcare-associated infections?

Hand hygiene is crucial because it directly prevents the spread of microorganisms that cause infections. It is the single most effective way to reduce the transmission of harmful pathogens in healthcare settings.

What should be done before starting the hand washing procedure?

Before starting, ensure that the necessary equipment is available, including an easily accessible sink with warm water, antimicrobial soap, and paper towels.

Why must the sink be avoided during hand washing?

The sink is considered a contaminated area. Touching it can transfer microorganisms onto the hands or uniform, leading to the spread of infections.

Why is it important to remove jewelry before washing hands?

Jewelry, such as wristwatches and rings, can harbor microorganisms in their settings, making it easier for bacteria to survive and potentially spread.

How should the water be adjusted when washing hands?

The water should be turned on and its pressure adjusted to ensure a comfortable flow that can thoroughly wet the hands and wrists.

Why is it important for the fingers to point downward during hand washing?

Fingers should point downward to ensure that water flows from the least to the most contaminated areas of the hands, effectively rinsing off microorganisms.

What should be inspected before starting the hand wash?

Check for any abrasions, cuts, or lesions on the hands and forearms. Open wounds can harbor higher concentrations of microorganisms.

What is the purpose of interlacing the fingers during the hand wash?

Interlacing the fingers ensures that all surfaces of the hands, including between the fingers, are properly cleaned by allowing friction to dislodge dirt and microorganisms.

What is the reason for using paper towels to dry hands and turn off the faucet?

Paper towels help avoid contamination by preventing direct contact with potentially contaminated surfaces like the faucet. The faucet can carry microorganisms that would require redoing the entire hand washing process if touched.

What are the five moments of hand hygiene in healthcare settings?

The five moments of hand hygiene refer to the key times when hand washing is required: before patient contact, before clean/aseptic procedures, after body fluid exposure risk, after patient contact, and after touching patient surroundings.