Handwashing Technique | Greenischool

Proper Handwashing Technique

Preparation: Wet hands with water

Step 1: Apply enough soap to cover all hand surfaces

Step 2: Rub hands palm to palm

Step 3: Right palm over left dorsum with interlaced fingers and vice versa

Step 4: Palm to palm with fingers interlaced

Step 5: Backs of fingers to opposing palms with fingers interlocked

Step 6: Rotational rubbing of left thumb clasped in right palm and vice versa

Step 7: Rotational rubbing, backwards and forwards with clasped fingers of right hand in left palm and vice versa

Step 8: Rinse hands with water

Step 9: Dry hands thoroughly with a single use towel or paper towel

Step 10: Use towel to turn off the faucet

Your hands are safe after a 40 - 60 minutes of handwashing with soap and water

World Health Organization states that clean hands are safe hands (WHO, 2005). Proper handwashing eliminates any chances of spread of infection especially those infectious diseases that are commonly experienced by many children such as influenza, gastrointestinal illness and common colds.This section depicts the proper handwashing technique with the use of water and soap as a key to achieve clean hands and to prevent spread of infection. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identify the times that proper handwashing is needed which are as follows:

1. Before, during and after preparing food

2. Before eating food

3. Before and after caring for someone who is sick

4. Before and after treating a cut or wound

5. After using the toilet

6. After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet

7. After blowing your nose; coughing or sneezing

8. After touching an animal or animal waste

9. After handling pet food or pet treats

10. After touching the garbage

(Source: http://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/hygiene/)