Hand hygiene is the most important method of preventing and controlling the spread of infections.
It is extremely important that all patients and visitors have clean hands.
There are two main ways to decontaminate your hands: either washing them with soap and fresh running water or using a hand sanitiser.
Patients - always wash your hands after using bathroom or toilet facilities, before eating food, after coughing or sneezing into the hands, or when your hands are visibly dirty. Hand wipes may also be useful to clean your hands.
Visitors - protect yourself and patients in hospitals and care homes by washing your hands when entering and leaving the ward or by using the liquid or foam hand sanitisers.
It takes less than a minute!
45 seconds
1. Palms
2. Backs
3. Between fingers
4. Knuckle grip
5. Thumbs and webs
6. Fingertips
7. Wrists
Wet hands under running water and apply liquid soap.
Rub hands together, ensuring all areas are covered - this can be achieved by following the 7-steps above.
Dry hands thoroughly using a disposable paper towel.
Dispose of used paper towel in appropriate waste bin - waste bins in hospitals and care homes will be foot operated pedal bins - this will prevent recontamination of your hands by lifting the lid of the bin.
Apply hand sanitiser to dry hands.
Rub hands together, ensuring all areas are covered - follow the 7-steps above.
Allow hand sanitiser to dry on your hands.
It is not appropriate to use a hand sanitiser when the hands are visibly dirty or soiled. You should use running water and liquid soap in this instance.
Many hand sanitisers are not effective against viral infections eg vomiting and diarrhoea caused by norovirus, or when someone has clostridium difficile infection (infectious diarrhoea). You should use running water and liquid soap in this instance.
Hospital or care home staff will be happy to advise you when it is appropriate to use hand sanitisers or soap and water.
As a patient in a hospital or a resident in a care home, you should expect to see staff clean their hands before and after they provide care to you, but if you think staff have forgotten it's OK to ask!
If you require further advice or information, please contact the hospital's Infection Prevention and Control Team or a member of the ward/care home staff.
Infection prevention and control is everyone's responsibility.
Patients and visitors all have an important role to play in preventing the spread of healthcare associated infections.
HSC: Public Health Agency
DHSSPS: Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety
Produced by the Public Health Agency, Ormeau Avenue Unit, 18 Ormeau Avenue, Belfast BT2 8HS. Tel: 028 9031 1611. Textphone/Text Relay: 18001 028 9031 1611.
http://www.publichealth.hscni.net/
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