Appropriate Hand Hygiene

1
Appropriate Hand Hygiene

• Reduce the Risk
• of
• Getting Sick and Spreading Germs
• New York University
• Environmental Health and Safety

2
Why Should I Wash My Hands?

• Hand Hygiene/Hand Washing is the single most
  effective method to reduce the risk of spreading
  germs.

3
When Should I Wash My Hands?

• Before starting your day, before and after lunch,
  and generally, when you feel it necessary, wash
  with soap and water.
• When hands are dirty, contaminated or soiled,
  wash with soap and water.
• Especially important after coughing, sneezing
  or using a tissue
• If soap and water are not readily available, use
  an alcohol-based (60 or higher) hand-rub for
  routine scrubbing

4
How Should I Wash My Hands?

• Proper Techniques for Hand Washing
• Step 1
• Wet hands first
• with warm water
• avoid hot water

5
Proper Techniques for Hand Washing

• Step 2
• Apply 3-5 ml (2 - 3 pumps) of soap to hands.

6
Proper Techniques for Hand Washing Step 3

• Rub hands together for at least 20 seconds,
  covering all surfaces of the hands and in-between
  fingers.

7
Proper Techniques for Hand Washing

• Step 4
• Rinse hands with water.
• .

• Step 5
• Dry thoroughly using paper towels, leaving
• faucet on.

8
Proper Techniques for Hand Washing

• Step 6
• Use a new paper towel to turn off faucet.

• Step 7
• Discard used paper towels in trash.

9
Remember.

• Source http//www.kingcounty.gov/healthserv
  ices/health/communicable/stopgerms/posters.aspx

10
Resources

• http//www.cdc.gov/handhygiene/index.html
• http//www.nyu.edu/shc/flu
• Guideline for Hand Hygiene in Health-care
  Settings. MMWR 2002 vol. 51, no. RR-16.
• http//www.health.state.ny.us/diseases/communicabl
  e/influenza/
• New York University Student Health Center
• http//www.nyu.edu/shc/
• New York University Environmental Health and
  Safety
• www.nyu.edu/ehs 212-998-1450