Hand hygiene is the single most effective way to prevent the spread of infection to yourself and others
When you touch objects with contaminated hands, you leave germs for others to pick up
When you touch your eyes, nose or mouth, or an open cut, with your contaminated hands you could make yourself ill
When to clean your hands?
Before preparing food
Before touching your eyes, nose or mouth
Before and after changing a bandage
After using the rest room
After blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing
After touching things many other people have touched
Additionally hospital staff are required to clean their hands before and after patient contact and before and after using gloves
How to clean your hands:
When your hands look dirty
After using the bathroom
Before you eat or prepare food
Washing hands with soap and running water (for as long as it takes to sing the "Happy Birthday" song twice) will help protect against many germs. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
When to wash hands with soap and water:
Wet hands with warm running water
Apply soap
Lather for 15 seconds rubbing all surfaces of hands and wrists
Rinse under running water with fingers pointing down
Pat dry with paper towel
Turn off faucet with paper towel and open door with paper towel
Place paper towel in trash
When to clean hands with alcohol-based hand cleaners:
Apply one squirt of alcohol-based hand cleaner
Rub hands together to cover all surfaces 10-15 seconds until dry
