Handwashing/Handrub

Question 1

List the steps of the Handwashing/Handrub procedure

Answer 1

1. Turn on the faucet with a clean paper towel.
2. Adjust the water to an acceptable temperature.
3. Angle arms down, holding hands lower than the elbows. Wet hands and wrists.
4. Apply enough soap to cover all hand and wrist surfaces. Work up a lather.
   NOTE: Direct caregivers must rub hands together vigorously, as follows, for at least 20 seconds, covering all surfaces of the hands and fingers.
5. Rub hands palm to palm.
6. Right palm over top of left hand with interlaced fingers and vice versa.
7. Palm to palm with fingers interlaced.
8. Backs of fingers to opposing palms with fingers interlocked.
9. Rotational rubbing of left thumb clasped in right palm and vice versa.
10. Rotational rubbing backwards and forwards with clasped fingers of right hand in left palm and vice versa. Clean finger nails.
11. Rinse hands with water down from wrists to fingertips.
12. Dry thoroughly with single use towels.
13. Use towel to turn off faucet and discard towel.
    Otherwise use hand rub.
14. Apply quarter sized amount of the product in a cupped hand and cover all surfaces.
15. Rub hands palm to palm.
16. Right palm over left dorsum with interlaced fingers and vice versa.
17. Palm to palm with fingers interlaced.
18. Backs of fingers to opposing palms with fingers interlocked.
19. Rotational rubbing, backwards and forwards with clasped fingers of right hand in left palm and vice versa.
20. Rotational rubbing backwards and forwards with clasped fingers of right hand in left palm and vice versa.
21. Allow hands to dry. Waterless hand rubs must be rubbed for at least 10 seconds or until dry to be effective.

Question 2

What is the rationale for step “1. Turn on the faucet with a clean paper towel.”?

Answer 2

Faucet may be used by the resident/visitors and should be kept as clean as possible.

Question 3

What is the rationale for step “2. Adjust the water to an acceptable temperature.”?

Answer 3

Hot water open pores which may cause irritation.

Question 4

What is the rationale for step “3. Angle arms down, holding hands lower than the elbows. Wet hands and wrists.”?

Answer 4

Water should run from most clean to most soiled.

Question 5

What is the rationale for step “5. Rub hands palm to palm.”?

Answer 5

Lather and friction will loosen pathogens to be rinsed away

Question 6

What is the rationale for step “11. Rinse hands with water down from wrists to fingertips.”?

Answer 6

Soap left on the skin may cause irritation and rashes.

Question 7

What is the rationale for step “13. Use towel to turn off faucet and discard towel.”?

Answer 7

Prevents contamination of clean hands.

Question 8

What is the rationale for step “14. Apply quarter sized amount of the product in a cupped hand and cover all surfaces.”?

Answer 8

May refer to label for estimated amount of product to be placed in palm.

Question 9

What is the rationale for step “15. Rub hands palm to palm.”?

Answer 9

Thorough application will reach all surfaces of concern.

Question 10

What is the rationale for step “21. Allow hands to dry. Waterless hand rubs must be rubbed for at least 10 seconds or until dry to be effective.”?

Answer 10

The product must be dry to be effective.