HandWashing

Question 1

When do you wash your hands

Answer 1

• Immediately before every episode of direct patient contact or care, including aseptic procedures.
  • - Immediately after every episode of direct patient contact or care.
  • - Immediately after any exposure to body fluids
  • - Immediately after any other activity or contact with a patient’s surroundings that could potentially result in hands becoming contaminated
  • - Immediately after removal of gloves.

Question 2

when must liquid and soap be used

Answer 2

• • When hands are visibly soiled or potentially contaminated with body fluids.
• • In clinical situations where there is potential for the spread of alcohol-resistant organisms (such as Clostridium difficile or other organisms that cause diarrhoeal illness).

Question 3

what are the three stages to hand washing

Answer 3

• Preparation
• Washing
• Rinsing
• Drying
  10-15 seconds minimum

Question 4

bare below the elbow meaning

Answer 4

• - Removing wrist and hand jewellery
• - Making sure that fingernails are short, clean and free of nail polish
• - Covering cuts and abrasions with waterproof dressings.
Disposable sleeves are available for students and staff who feel uncomfortable for cultural or religious reasons to expose their lower arms.

Question 5

what are the 7 key actions of washing hands

Answer 5

1. Rubbing hands palm to palm to generate lather
2. Right palm over left dorsum with fingers interlaced and vice versa
3. Palm to palm with fingers interlaced
4. Backs of fingers to opposing palms with fingers interlocked
5. Rotational rubbing of left thumb clasped in right palm and vice versa
6. Rotational rubbing, backwards & forwards with clasped fingers of right hand in left palm and vice versa
7. Rotating the palm of the hand over the wrist joint of the opposite arm in a circular manner. Repeat
   for each side.