Hand Washing Steps and Rationale PDF

## Hand Washing ### Steps with Rationale | Step | Action | Rationale | |---|---|---| | 1 | Prepare equipment | To save time and effort | | 2 | Roll up sleeves above elbow | To avoid wetting of clothes | | 3 | Remove all jewelry | Jewelries harbor micro-organisms | | 4 | Inspect hands and fingers f...

## Hand Washing ### Steps with Rationale | Step | Action | Rationale | |---|---|---| | 1 | Prepare equipment | To save time and effort | | 2 | Roll up sleeves above elbow | To avoid wetting of clothes | | 3 | Remove all jewelry | Jewelries harbor micro-organisms | | 4 | Inspect hands and fingers for breaks or cuts | Cuts in the skin can harbor a high number of micro-organisms. | | 5 | Stand in front of sink at an adequate distance | Keep good body mechanics to reduce stress on your back. | | 6 | Keep hands and uniform away from the sink | As the sink is contaminated and may contaminate clothes. | | 7 | Open the tap and adjust the flow and temperature | Warm water is preferred. Running water doesn't harbor micro-organisms as stagnant water does. | | 8 | Wet hands well, avoid splashing water against uniform | The water should flow from the least contaminated to the most contaminated area. | | 9 | Pick up the soap and wet it | Make enough soap suds by friction. | | 10 | Wash and rinse the soap tab well | --- | | 11 | Apply soap to hands thoroughly | Make enough suds. | | 12 | Rinse soap bar and put it in soap dish. | Unclean soap provides recontamination for hands after washing | | 13 | Rub hand palm to palm | To make enough soap suds in two hands. | | 14 | Thoroughly wash and rinse the hands | Use firm rubbing and circular movements to wash the palm, back, and wrist of each hand.| | 15 | Be sure to include the heel of the hand | --- | | 16 | Interlace the fingers and thumbs, and move the hands back and forth | The circular action creates friction that helps remove micro-organisms mechanically. | | 17 | Right palm over left dorsum with interlaced fingers and vice versa | --- | | 18 | Palm to palm with fingers interlaced and vice versa | --- | | 19 | Backs of fingers to opposing palms with fingers interlocked and vice versa at least 5 times in one each. | --- | | 20 | Rotational rubbing of left thumb clasped in right palm and vice versa | Continue these motions for about 30 seconds. | | 21 | Rub the fingertips against the palm of the opposite hand. | - | | 22 | Rotate palm to palm in one direction| --- | | 23 | Exert pressure with hands on the wrist | Skin folds harbor micro-organisms | | 24 | Rinse the hands under running water in one direction | --- | | 25 | Squeeze two hands with other. | | | 26 | Turn off the tap. | --- | | 27 | Dry hands from fingers to wrist with a towel | To prevent dryness. | | 28 | Apply an emollient on hands | --- | | 29 | Keep the clean hands in high level | To avoid touching any contaminated material after hand washing | **The WHO recommends these steps.**